Rawalpindi: NESPAK has completed the preliminary feasibility study for Phase II of the Rawalpindi Ring Road, connecting Thalian Interchange with Hakla Interchange under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) route project.
According to sources, NESPAK has proposed three alignment options for consideration by the Punjab cabinet, along with its recommendations.
The first option involves widening the existing M-2 Motorway from three to five lanes on each side. The 15.3-kilometre project is estimated to cost around PKR 9 billion and has been identified by NESPAK as the most suitable, economical and practical option.
The second option proposes a new 19.5-kilometre highway on the eastern side of the motorway at an estimated cost of PKR 18 billion, while the third involves a 26.5-kilometre corridor on the western side, costing around PKR 24 billion.
NESPAK has preferred the motorway-widening option, saying it could reduce construction costs by 50% to 60% compared with the other alternatives. The option would also require less land acquisition and have a shorter completion period due to its use of existing infrastructure.
The feasibility study has also identified challenges related to traffic management during construction, right-of-way issues and interchange design. NESPAK considers the western alignment less economically viable because of its higher cost, greater length and extensive land acquisition requirements.
Samra Zulfiqar, a real estate analyst at Zameen.com, is passionate about finding projects that offer buyers the best returns. Her keen insights spotlight the market’s most promising opportunities.
