The Rawalpindi Ring Road revised cost is awaiting final approval as the Punjab Planning and Development Board prepares to inspect the project site before clearing the updated PC-I, which raises the total cost to Rs 53 billion. This article will cover all the project developments happening on Ring Roads and the overall cost.
Revised cost awaits approval after PC-I review
Officials said a recent pre-Punjab Development Working Party (PDWP) meeting reviewed the revised PC-I and raised technical observations. The planning board decided to conduct a physical inspection before issuing final approval.
Authorities linked the Rawalpindi Ring Road revised cost increase to sharp inflation in construction materials over the past three years. The Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA) awarded the contract to the Frontier Works Organisation (FWO) in 2022, but since then, prices have surged by nearly 40 percent.
The revised PC-I also includes wider bridges, extensive stone pitching to protect against flooding, modern automated toll plazas, and the complete redesign of the Thalian Interchange to handle future motorway and CPEC-linked traffic.
The Punjab Planning Board has enquired the RDA to justify all revisions before approval. RDA Director General Kinza Murtaza confirmed that her team would address the observations and resubmit the PC-I within a week.
Kinza stated that construction remains on a fast track and that site inspections are routine once a project crosses 70 percent completion.
Rawalpindi Ring Road construction status and timeline
As of January 2026, the Rawalpindi Ring Road has reached 78 percent completion. The 38.3-kilometer, six-lane controlled-access corridor supports a design speed of 120 km/h.
Carpeting work is complete on large stretches from the Banth (GT Road) side, while bridge construction and final surfacing continue across the remaining sections. Authorities now target April 2026 for project completion after missing the original 2025 deadline due to heavy monsoon rains and design changes.
The project includes five major interchanges, with the Thalian Broad-Based Interchange standing out as the most significant upgrade. The redesign required the acquisition of 1,134 additional kanals of land to future-proof the junction.
Interchanges at Banth, Adiala, Chakri Road, and Chak Beli Khan are nearing completion and will directly link
- Residential areas
- Industrial zones
- Logistics hubs to the highway
List of Other Latest Projects Rawalpindi Ring Road Development
All transport terminals to shift near Ring Road
Pirwadhai General Bus Stand and all 44 small and large public transport terminals will be shifted to new locations near the Rawalpindi Ring Road. The plan also includes moving all goods transport terminals and the Islamabad fruit and vegetable market to these areas.
Terminals in Faizabad, Chungi No. 26, and other locations will also be relocated. Under the new policy, heavy transport vehicles will no longer be allowed to enter Rawalpindi city. Any heavy vehicle found entering the city will be seized.
After the shift, Pirwadhai General Bus Stand will come under the full control of the Punjab government. It will continue to operate as a terminal for inter-district, intra-city, and Rawalpindi–Islamabad route transport.
Ring Road Industrial Estate Project
The Punjab government has approved a Ring Road Industrial Estate to host non-polluting industries such as mobile phone assembly and lithium battery manufacturing, which is playing a role in strengthening regional employment and exports.
High-Rise Commercial Belt Along Ring Road
Land within 500 meters on both sides of the Rawalpindi Ring Road has been declared commercial, allowing 3 to 10-storey high-rise plazas, malls, and offices.
Service Roads and Urban Access Project
Dedicated service roads are under construction on both sides of the corridor to make sure smooth local access without disrupting high-speed traffic.
Wholesale Market Relocation Project
Authorities are making plans to shift grain, fruit, and vegetable wholesale markets to the Ring Road, ending heavy-truck congestion in central Rawalpindi.
Integrated Transport Terminals Project
Plans are finalized to relocate bus stands and freight terminals from Pirwadhai and Sohaan to the Ring Road outskirts.
Green Ribbon Environmental Project
The Green Ribbon Initiative targets 300,000 trees along the corridor to improve air quality and environmental sustainability.
Phase II: Ring Road–CPEC Link Project
Feasibility for Phase II (Thalian to Sangjani/Margalla Avenue) is underway and expected to conclude by March 2026, completing the full ring and linking directly to CPEC routes.
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