Rising inflation, monsoon rains, and design hurdles push back completion of city’s flagship road project.
Rawalpindi: The much-awaited Rawalpindi Ring Road project is facing another major setback, with its December 2025 completion deadline now unlikely to be achieved. Officials confirmed that inflation, soaring material costs, and heavy monsoon rains have slowed progress and pushed project expenses significantly higher.
Initially budgeted at PKR 32.9 billion, the project cost is now projected to rise by 40–50%. Nearly 70% of the 38.3-kilometer stretch has been completed, but continuous rainfall in recent weeks has hindered construction. Authorities plan to submit a revised PC-I to adjust for escalating costs, which will be reviewed by the Central Development Working Party (CDWP) and later forwarded to the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec) for approval.
Another challenge is linking Thalian traffic to the motorway, where congestion remains unresolved. While the National Highway Authority (NHA) intends to expand lanes, its scheme has yet to progress. To ease pressure, the Frontier Works Organization (FWO) has volunteered to finance a one-kilometer merging road itself.
Despite cost hikes and delays, officials emphasized the project’s priority status, highlighting its role in reshaping regional connectivity through five planned interchanges at Baanth, Chak Beli Khan, Adiala Road, Chakri Road, and Thalian.