Thallian interchange plan approved

RAWALPINDI:

Around 85 per cent work on the Rawalpindi Ring Road route has been completed and the PC-1 worth Rs4.8 billion for the broad-based Thallian interchange has also been approved by the relevant authority.

The overall cost of the Ring Road route project, including the Thallian interchange, is estimated at Rs51.4 billion, while a two-lane motorway link road beyond the Thallian interchange will be constructed by the National Highway Authority (NHA). The Thallian interchange and motorway link will be completed in the second phase and opened for traffic later.

According to details, work on the 38.6-kilometre route, including Banth interchange, Chak Beli Khan Road interchange, Adiala interchange and Chakri interchange, has reached 85 per cent completion. The Ring Road is expected to be opened for traffic by mid-June without the Thallian interchange. However, the interchange and motorway link will only be opened after completion of construction work by the NHA.

Sources in the Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA), which is the executing agency of the project, said funds are available in the overall cost for acquiring additional land for the Thallian interchange. They said delays in completion of the state-of-the-art project occurred due to various ground realities, but only 15pc work now remains on the route and four interchanges. Ongoing work is progressing rapidly under strict monitoring.