The Punjab government has now altered the PC-I for the Ring Road project, which has raised the estimated cost from Rs. 32 billion to Rs. 39 billion.
The Central Development Working Party (CDWP) will have the revised plan submitted for its next meeting with a view to getting approval from the body. Afterward, the CDWP will refer the plan to the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) for approval after which the foundation spending can be released.
The government has earmarked a sum of Rs. 1 billion, of which Rs. 400 million was released in July while Rs. 600 million was released in the current month. A senior official of the Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA) said that the revised PC-I considers price variation through a provision of Rs. 1.698 billion for completed works and Rs. 1.222 billion against price escalation as per Planning Commission guidelines.
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The project has now entered another phase of development with launching girders on the flyovers for the construction of the Ring Road. Work on the major railway bridge will also start very soon, as the design is being finalized, and Nespak and Pakistan Railways will be working on it together. The main feature of the project, which is about to recognize in its full form an extent of 38.3 km, includes five interchanges at Baanth, Chak Baili Khan, Adiala Road, Chakri Road, and Thalian.
The road will also comprise an industrial zone and will be designed for a speed of 120 km/h with six lanes when completed. The Ring Road project is to ease traffic flow and moor connectivity in Rawalpindi and bless it with regional economic growth.
RDA Director General Kinza Murtaza said that the project must be met on time while ensuring quality works. Moreover, she stated, “Once the Ring Road is completed, it would augment connectivity to a great extent and benefit the growth and development of the region.