Rawalpindi: Construction on the long-delayed Rawalpindi Ring Road (R3) has gained momentum following the release of PKR 12 billion by the Punjab government earlier this year. The 38.8-kilometre-long road project, worth PKR 32.996 billion, is now expected to be completed by December 2025, in line with the official deadline.
The R3 project, being executed under the supervision of the Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA), is designed to address chronic traffic congestion in the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad by diverting heavy transport away from urban areas. It is also expected to stimulate economic activity through the establishment of special economic and industrial zones along its route.
RDA Director General Kinza Murtaza told Dawn that construction has reached nearly 50% completion. Of the PKR 12 billion allocated in January, PKR 7 billion has already been spent, with an additional PKR 5 billion to be utilised by the end of June. The remaining funds are expected to be allocated in the next fiscal year.
The project begins at Baanth on the Grand Trunk (GT) Road and ends at the Thallian Interchange on Motorway M-2. It will feature six-lane controlled access, five interchanges, 12 bridges over nullahs and roads, two river bridges (Soan and Sill), and one railway bridge. The road is designed to accommodate speeds of up to 120 km/h and has a 90-metre right of way. A total of 8,992 kanals of land have been acquired for the project at a cost of PKR 6.7 billion, which is not included in the main construction cost.
Initially proposed in the early 1990s, the Ring Road project faced repeated delays. In March 2022, former Prime Minister Imran Khan laid its foundation stone at Thallian. However, the project was paused during the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) government for third-party validation of the route. Work resumed in August 2023 after another foundation stone was laid by then Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif at Rawat.
According to the RDA, the Ring Road will not only ease traffic but also improve regional connectivity, especially by linking with the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). Plans are underway to develop an economic zone, an industrial zone, an education city, a medical city, an international exhibition centre, and an IT city along the road. Officials believe the project will ultimately reshape the urban and economic landscape of Rawalpindi, a city that currently faces heavy traffic pressure due to freight transport moving through its centre via the N-5 highway. Once operational, the Ring Road is expected to significantly reduce travel time, enhance access to the New Islamabad International Airport, and improve goods and passenger movement across the region.
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