Rawalpindi: The much-anticipated Rawalpindi Ring Road project is facing further delays, with its completion deadline of December 2025 now unlikely to be met. Officials confirmed that rising inflation and persistent monsoon rains have pushed costs significantly higher, complicating the project’s timely delivery.
Originally estimated at PKR 32.9 billion, the project cost is now projected to rise by 40 to 50 percent. Around 70% of the 38.3-kilometre road has been completed, but progress slowed in recent weeks due to heavy rainfall. Work is expected to resume at full pace once weather conditions improve.
Authorities are preparing a revised PC-I to account for surging prices of construction materials and vehicle charges over the past two years. The updated plan will first be reviewed by the Central Development Working Party (CDWP) before being forwarded to the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec) for approval.
A key challenge also lies in connecting traffic from Thalian to the motorway. While the National Highway Authority (NHA) plans to add two more lanes to ease congestion, its expansion scheme has yet to move forward. To address the bottleneck, the Frontier Works Organization (FWO) has volunteered to fund a one-kilometre merging road itself.
Deputy Project Director Ashfaq Sulheri confirmed that the project’s timeline will be extended. He added that while the Frontier Works Organization had requested a 50% increase in project costs, the government will only approve a 44% hike.
Once complete, the Rawalpindi Ring Road will feature five interchanges at Baanth, Chak Beli Khan, Adiala Road, Chakri Road and Thalian. Officials stressed that despite delays, the project remains a top priority and is expected to reshape regional connectivity and traffic management.
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