RAWALPINDI: Finally, the over two-decade-old plan to construct the Rawalpindi Ring Road (R3) got the green signal as Prime Minister Imran Khan on Saturday laid its foundation stone at Thalian near Islamabad-Lahore Motorway. The project will complete in two years.

In a briefing to the prime minister, Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA) officials said the Punjab government had planned to construct the ring road on priority to address the traffic congestion in the twin cities.

The project is essential for the inhabitants of Rawalpindi and Islamabad as traffic on G.T. Road from Lahore to Rawalpindi/Islamabad and onward to Peshawar and vice versa passes through the heart of the Rawalpindi city creating gridlocks on major arteries of the city.

Project costing Rs33.7bn will complete in two years, PM told

The ring road will cater to these traffic issues by providing an alternative bypass by connecting N-5 with M-2, they said.

It will be a 38.3 km controlled access road originating at national highway (N-5) at Baanth and crossing through Chakbeli Road, Adiala Road, Chakri Road and terminating at the motorway (M-2) at Thallian Interchange.

The total cost of the project will be Rs33.7 billion, including Rs27 billion construction cost and Rs6.7 billion for laad Acquisition.

Civil work on the ring road includes fenced right of way (90m), grade separated interchanges, bridges, underpasses, toll plazas and weigh bridges.

The road will operate at a design speed of 120 km/h with five interchanges and six lane controlled access.

The project will reap maximum social and economic dividends by provision of a fast and efficient route for trade related traffic and their access to other major cities.

It will also transform the socioeconomic status of the inhabitants by generation of employment opportunities for them. After completion of the project, regional trade and economic activity would also flourish.

Talking to Dawn, RDA Chief Engineer Dr Habibul Haq Randhawa said the contract of the construction work had been awarded to Frontier Works Organisation (FWO) and the Punjab government had released Rs4 billion it.

He said that the basic aim of the project was to ease congestion on the urban transportation system of twin cities. Fast and efficient route for trade related traffic and their access to other major cities to provide economic benefit to the local communities.

Published in Dawn, March 20th, 2022