RAWALPINDI: The Punjab government has released Rs4 billion for Rawalpindi Ring Road (R3) project to clear the liabilities before the end of fiscal year 2023-24.

Talking to Dawn, Commissioner Aamir Khattak said more funds would be released next fiscal year as the provincial government wanted to complete the project in stipulated timeframe by end of December.

In the current fiscal year 2023-24, the Punjab government had released Rs7.8 billion for the construction work as the land had already been acquired.

He said the revised PC-I had been approved by Planning and Development Department and it would get the approval from Central Development Working Party and Ecnec in coming days.

He said work on the project had been accelerated as it was a game changer and would solve the traffic problem in the garrison city and adjoining capital city.

He said the Punjab government was also working to bring more projects to the garrison city which would be announced in the annual development programme. He said to solve the sewerage and flood control issue, Leh Nullah project would be started soon.

He said two more projects including Kutchery Chowk expansion and signal-free corridor from Ammar Chowk to Pirwadhai Mor will be launched in next fiscal year.

He said the Rawalpindi Municipal Corporation and local administration had been asked to improve the roads and other infrastructure in the city and beautify the garrison city.

The R3 project cost escalated from Rs31 billion to Rs38 billion. The total length of the Rawalpindi Ring Road project is 38.3km from Baanth (G.T. Road) to Thalian (Motorway). It will have total five interchanges namely Baanth, Chak Beli Khan, Adiala Road, Chakri Road and Thalian. Industrial zone will be established around Rawalpindi Ring Road.

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

Published in Dawn, June 5th, 2024