RAWALPINDI: Despite tension on the borders, development work on Rawalpindi Ring Road (R3) worth Rs33 billion, Underpass on The Mall worth Rs6.4 billion, and Adiala Road Flyover worth Rs2.113 billion, will continue to meet the deadlines.

A senior official of the provincial government told Dawn that the funds allocated for the development work for the fiscal year 2024-25 had already been released, and the important projects would meet the deadline.

He said that Adiala Road Flyover, worth Rs2.113 billion project which had been renamed Nawaz Sharif Flyover, was near completion and it is likely to be completed by May 31, as the carpeting on the road will start within two to three days. About the Underpass on The Mall, the senior official said that the work would be completed within the stipulated time frame as the funds had already been released, and it would continue without any hurdle.

“There is plan to open double-barrel road underpass by the last week of this month, but due to heavy rain, the work will be delayed for few days. The government wanted to complete the work on time to end the problems of the people,” he said.

He said that the work would speed up after the rain. He said that the Frontier Works Organisation would speed up the work on the road construction after the heavy rain, and it would meet the deadline.

Meanwhile, the senior official said that Rawalpindi Ring Road will also be completed within the stipulated time frame of December 31. The work will be sped up in the coming days to meet the deadline. He said that the most complicated work had been started, and the pace of the work will continue.

When contacted, Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA) Director General Kinza Murtaza said that the RDA had enough money for the Ring Road project till the end of fiscal year and work had been done as per schedule.

She said that the tension on the borders did not affect the pace of work, as the government was committed to completing the welfare work as soon as possible. She said that the provincial government gave special instructions to meet the deadlines of the project while ensuring the quality of the construction material.

She said that apart of the RDA, the routine development work in the different parts of the city was not affected. She said that RDA established the control room in the development authority offices and checks the status of the development work on a daily basis.

Published in Dawn, May 10th, 2025