Rawalpindi Ring Road Deadline Extended, New Opening Date Revealed

The Rawalpindi Ring Road project has seen its PC-I cost revised from Rs. 33 billion to Rs. 50 billion, following a new design that widens and strengthens the Thallian Interchange, the key link between the road and the motorway.

Officials say nearly 70% of work is already done, while the completion date has now been shifted from December 2025 to March 2026.

According to project details, progress on the long-stalled scheme under the Rawalpindi Development Authority is moving ahead at a steady pace. A major portion of the road has been carpeted, and construction teams are working on bridges, embankments, and other sections along the 38.3 km stretch from Banth on GT Road to Thallian.

Although Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz had directed that the scheme be completed by the end of 2025, the expansion of the interchange and the remaining work across the full route made it difficult to meet the earlier target.

The redesign has pushed the cost up by Rs. 17 billion, and the contractor has now been given a new deadline of March 2026.

The Frontier Works Organisation had been working under the earlier PC-I of Rs33 billion, but the revised cost plan of Rs50 billion has now replaced it because of the additional expansion needs.

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RDA Director General Kinza Murtaza said the project is moving quickly and will be completed within the new time frame. She said the Ring Road will reshape the region’s traffic flow and will support future planning for economic activity, transport hubs, and other development needs in line with the vision of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz.

She also noted that the RDA is holding regular consultations with experts and concerned departments to fine-tune these plans.