Rawalpindi Ring Road Opening Delayed by Another Month

The opening of the Rawalpindi Ring Road to traffic will face another month's delay, as crews continue work on toll plazas and weighing stations.

A senior district administration official said the provincial government would announce an inauguration date after workers complete the remaining facilities. The road has cost Rs 50.4 billion.

Rawalpindi Ring Road: why the delay

• Authorities plan to install eight weighing stations to measure the weight of heavy trucks and calculate toll charges. The road will open to heavy and light traffic after these facilities become operational.
• Workers continue to build toll plaza booths at Baanth and Thalian, and the procurement of the weighing machines remains incomplete.
• The official estimated that construction of the weighing stations would take two to three weeks, after which teams would begin installing the weighing machines.
• The Punjab Ring Road Authority would then need another two weeks to install the Intelligent Transportation System and Electronic Toll Collection system. Sensors would weigh trucks and determine their toll charges.
• Alongside these facilities, authorities are establishing offices for the Punjab Ring Road Authority and building residential accommodation for officials.

Project facts

• The project is a 38.3-kilometre route from Baanth to Thalian, with a design speed of 120 kilometres per hour.
• It features six lanes, controlled access, five interchanges and a 90-metre right of way.
• Its infrastructure includes two bridges across the Soan and Sill rivers, 12 bridges over nullahs and roads, a railway bridge near Baanth and 11 overpasses.
• Work on the Thalian interchange will begin after the road opens to traffic and is expected to finish by December.

A troubled history

Planners proposed a 68-kilometre Ring Road during the PTI government's tenure. However, a financial scandal halted work, and authorities subsequently approved a revised 38.3-kilometre alignment.

Then prime minister Imran Khan laid the project's foundation stone in March 2022. Later, the Pakistan Democratic Movement government, led by Shehbaz Sharif, temporarily suspended the project, then authorised work following a third-party validation of the revised route. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif laid the foundation stone at Rawat on August 8, 2023.

Frequently asked questions

When will the Rawalpindi Ring Road open? The opening is delayed by another month or longer. The provincial government will announce an inauguration date once the remaining facilities are complete.

Why is the Rawalpindi Ring Road delayed? Toll plazas, weighing stations and their machines are still incomplete, along with the toll collection systems.

What is the cost of the Rawalpindi Ring Road? Rs 50.4 billion.

How long is the Rawalpindi Ring Road? 38.3 kilometres, running from Baanth to Thalian. The original proposal was 68 kilometres.

What are the road's main features? Six lanes, a design speed of 120 kilometres per hour, five interchanges, controlled access and multiple bridges across rivers, nullahs and roads.