Interchange redesign raises Ring Road cost

Project aims to improve traffic flow and reduce congestion

RAWALPINDI:

With 50% of the Rawalpindi Ring Road project completed, authorities have decided to redesign the Thalian Interchange into a broad-based structure to accommodate higher traffic volumes.

This change comes after consultations with the National Highway Authority (NHA), as the interchange falls within its jurisdiction. As a result, the project's overall cost is now expected to escalate, with the contractor also demanding increased compensation due to construction cost escalations.

Originally, the revised PC-1 for the project was approved at Rs33 billion by ECNEC, reduced from an earlier proposed Rs39b. However, due to the redesign of the Thalian Interchange, increased land acquisition, and rising construction costs, the budget is now projected to rise again—potentially reaching Rs39 to Rs40b. The contractor argues that the current rates date back to 2021, while costs in 2025 have significantly increased.

The Ring Road, stretching 38.3 kilometers from GT Road Rawat (Banth Mor) to Thalian Motorway Interchange, is progressing rapidly. Under the execution of the Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA)'s Project Management Unit (PMU), and contracted to the Frontier Works Organization (FWO), the project includes five interchanges (Banth, Chak Beli Khan, Adiala Road, Chakri Road, and Thalian), two river bridges, seven nullah bridges, one railway bridge, 11 overpasses, 10 subways, and 53 culverts.

In light of the redesign at Thalian, the RDA has been assigned to initiate Section 4 for acquiring additional land. The new interchange will not only handle current traffic more efficiently but also serve future expansion plans, particularly Phase 2 of the Ring Road. Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has set a deadline of December 2025 for the project's completion.

Meanwhile, the proposal to establish economic zones along both sides of the Ring Road has yet to gain approval. The Rawalpindi and Islamabad Chambers of Commerce and Industry (CCIs), along with other business associations, continue to push for this initiative, considering it a potential game changer for economic development in the region.