PTI govt seeks BOT partners for Ring Road project

To expedite work on project, Sarwar to approach Planning Minister Asad Umar

RAWALPINDI: As the government struggles to raise capital for the long-delayed Rawalpindi Ring Road project, it has decided to complete the project on a build-operate-and-transfer (BOT) basis.

This was suggested by Federal Minister for Aviation Ghulam Sarwar Khan on Saturday.

Speaking to The Express Tribune, Sarwar said that the cash-strapped government has already issued an Rs250 million tranche for initial work on the project, particularly procurement of land for the project.

Terming it a megaproject, the minister said that it was no longer just a ring road for the garrison city, rather it will be a longer corridor stretching over 100 kilometres between Islamabad and Rawalpindi. It will also cost more to build, around Rs100 billion — or twice the original cost of the Rawalpindi Ring Road, he said.

Sarwar added that the project will commence at Chhan Bridge and end at the starting point after looping between the two cities. Around half of the road, 50 kilometres from Rawat to the Thaliyan Interchange will fall in Rawalpindi while the remaining part will pass through Islamabad, covering Shah Allah Datta, Siri Saral, Margalla Road, Kohsar, F-series Sectors, Bhara Kahu, Kallar Sayedan before looping back to the starting point at Rawat in Rawalpindi.

The fruits of this project will not remain limited to the twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi but will benefit the entire country, he said, adding that it will take around two years to build the project.

The project will also help reduce the traffic problems of the two cities as it will facilitate the movement of some 50,000 vehicles besides improving environmental pollution.

To expedite work on the project, the federal aviation minister said that the will raise the matter with Federal Minister for Planning and Development Asad Umar. 

Published in The Express Tribune, March 1^st, 2020.