PESHAWAR: The Northern Bypass project, intended to complete the Ring Road around Peshawar, continues to face significant delays due to insufficient funding. The project, which began in 2010, has entered its 17th year and is now facing a severe financial shortfall. The federal government has allocated only Rs500 million for the current fiscal year, far below the Rs5.3 billion required to complete the final phase of the project on schedule.
Initially conceived with an estimated cost of Rs 3.07 billion, the project’s cost has ballooned to Rs 27 billion following multiple revisions. The construction of various packages has experienced repeated delays, with Package I originally set for completion in 2011 but revised to 2014. Similarly, other phases, including Package II and Package 3A, have also missed deadlines, with completion now expected in 2025.
The most recent phase, Package 3B, which runs from Nasir Bagh to Takhta Baig in Khyber district, was launched in December 2023 and is now projected to complete in February 2026. The project requires Rs4.27 billion in actual funding, along with an additional Rs1.1 billion for escalation costs.
At a recent meeting chaired by the Commissioner of Peshawar Division, officials from the National Highway Authority (NHA) and the district administration discussed the urgent need for additional funds. The provincial government is expected to approach the federal government to request the release of the necessary funds.
The Northern Bypass is intended to alleviate traffic congestion by providing an alternate route for vehicles coming from the motorway and GT Road, benefiting both Peshawar city and the surrounding areas. Timely completion is critical for improving traffic flow and infrastructure in the region.
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