Four firms in the run for making feasibility of Rawalpindi's Ring Road project

Qualifying company to present designs for the thoroughfare

RAWALPINDI: The long-standing Ring Road project in Rawalpindi inched closer to commencing as the authorities have issued request for proposal to four out of 16 companies who qualified for contract of feasibility worth Rs85 million of Ring Road project.

The companies include MS National Engineering, MS Omani Company, MM Pakistan, MS Zurich International and MS Associated Consultancy Center. The companies would be restricted to submit their technical and financial bids latest by 1st June to Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA).

The company which will be awarded the contract will be asked to create a detailed design of the project, geometric and structural design and the resettlement plan for those affected by the project in six months.

The process for acquiring land for the project will start once the consultant firm submits its report to the executing authority of the project (RDA).

The long-standing Ring Road project in Rawalpindi inched closer to commencing after six of the 26 companies who applied, were shortlisted for pre-qualification status and will be acquired per the alignment determined in the report Earlier, the commissioner Rawalpindi had finished the whole process after finding irregularities in the process.

Bidding for Ring Road feasibility project begins in Rawalpindi

Earlier, the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) of China had agreed to grant loan for Ring Road project.

The ring road will help alleviate congestion in the central areas of Rawalpindi apart from reducing the travel time between the twin cities, especially for heavy vehicles.

Furthermore, main business hubs, markets and industries of the city will be shifted to areas along the Ring Road, paving way for new business activities. Some Rs6 billion have been allocated for acquiring land for the project. Moreover, of the Rs90.975 million allocated for devising the feasibility of the project, Rs5 million have been set aside for the establishment of the project management unit.

Thus far, a survey conducted to determine the exact route along which the 38.8-kilometre-long Ring Road has been conducted with the alignment of the road from the Channi Sher Alam Bridge on GT Road and end at the Thalian interchange on the M-2 motorway between Rawalpindi and Lahore near the Islamabad International Airport along with 12-km-long link roads from Rawat and Tarnol. Four intersections will also be constructed.

The Chinese Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) has already expressed its desire to give a loan worth Rs47 billion for the construction of the Ring Road. 

Published in The Express Tribune, May 19^th, 2019.