Rawalpindi Ring Road project hits a snag

Punjab govt seeks return of Rs4b released earlier

RAWALPINDI:

The 38.3 kilometre-long Rawalpindi Ring Road project — inaugurated by former prime minister Imran Khan on March 19 — has hit a snag as the Punjab government has sought back Rs4 billion released earlier for the acquisition of land for the road scheme.

Sources said that after the change of government in the centre and Punjab, no work could be carried out on the project despite its inauguration and initial moving of machinery and equipment as the current provincial government showed the least interest in carrying out the project.

The sources in the Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA) told The Express Tribune following the approval of former prime minister Imran Khan, the PTI-led Punjab government had released Rs4 billion and assigned the civic agency with the task to acquire the land worth.

After the release of the initial sum, the RDA awarded the contract to the Frontier Works Organisation (FWO). However, since the inauguration of the project, no agreement has been reached between the FWO and the project director regarding the execution of the Rawalpindi Ring Road project.

The FWO, which won the contract for the project at a cost of Rs22.80 billion, also started work on April 16 at Banth Mor and Thalian Interchange but after the political turmoil in the country, the ongoing work on the project was halted practically.

According to the sources, the RDA could not utilise the Rs4 billion due to the political uncertainty in the country and the sum is feared to be lapsed by June 30 of the current financial year.

The sources said that the Punjab government has sought back Rs4 billion and RDA officials were putting together nitty-gritty details to refund the sum.

The sources said that the RDA would request the Punjab government to allocate the sum in the next financial year budget so that work could be started on the project.

In this regard, the sources said, the Punjab government will make the final decision.

The Punjab government had approved the project at a cost of Rs33694.43 million and of which Rs6724.73 million had been earmarked for land acquisition and Rs22.80 billion for its construction.

The 38.3-kilometre-long ring road will have six lanes. It will start from Banth GT Road near Rawat and culminate at Thalian near Motorway. The ring road will have a total of five interchanges at Banth, Chak Bailey Khan, Adiala Road, Chakri Road and Thalian Interchange on the motorway (M-2).

“The sources said that the fund lapse would be avoided if the money was returned to the Punjab government. The Punjab government will have to decide whether or not to include the project in the following fiscal year,” the sources said adding that under the current circumstances, it is quite challenging to commence work on the project.

The Rawalpindi Ring Road project, known as the missing link of Rawalpindi, has been in cold storage for the last 17 years. In case of any further delay, its estimated cost will further balloon.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 3^rd, 2022.