RAWALPINDI: Work on the Rs5 billion Thaliaan Interchange of the Rawalpindi Ring Road (R3) project will begin next week, as the divisional administration has convened a meeting to acquire an additional 358 kanals of land near the motorway on Monday.

The administration has also decided to follow the toll rates of the Lahore Ring Road, and the e-tag system will be linked with the motorway on the Rawalpindi Ring Road. After the addition of the Thaliaan Interchange component, the cost of the Rawalpindi Ring Road project has increased to Rs47 billion. Work on the interchange will commence in the coming week.

A senior official of the divisional administration said 557 kanals had been allocated for the interchange, but after changes to the plan, 358 more kanals were required. In this regard, Section 14 has already been imposed.

Regarding the meeting chaired by Divisional Commissioner Aamer Khattak, the official said it was called to resolve the issue of houses falling under the project area, which would be settled within a day or two. The Thaliaan Interchange is a necessary component to avoid traffic congestion, as the Ring Road will merge with the motorway at Thalian.

“More than 18,000 vehicles will enter the motorway from the Ring Road at this point daily, and it is necessary to construct the interchange,” he said.

Talking to Dawn, R3 Deputy Project Director Ashfaq Sulheri said that work on the Thaliaan Interchange would begin next week as all formalities had been completed and the Frontier Works Organisation had been asked to complete the necessary preparations.

“Twenty-eight kilometres of asphalt work has been completed on the Rawalpindi Ring Road, while the total length of the project is 38 kilometres,” he said, adding that work on other interchanges and overpasses had been completed.

Mr Sulheri said work on the project was progressing at full pace, with more than 85 per cent completed, and it was likely to be finished within the stipulated timeframe.

He added that work on the Baanth Interchange entry point from Grand Trunk Road was almost complete. He further said that installation of lampposts and the lighting system had begun, the jersey barrier installation had been completed, and water channels would be completed within a week or two.

The total length of the Ring Road is 38.3 kilometres. It will have five interchanges including Baanth, Chak Baili Khan, Adiala Road, Chakri Road and Thalian. The road will operate at a design speed of 120 km/h as a six-lane controlled-access corridor.

About the new development, Mr Sulheri told Dawn that the Punjab government would adopt the toll tax system implemented on the Lahore Ring Road.

“We have decided to adopt the Lahore Ring Road model, and the same rates will be implemented, which are lower than those on motorways. An Rs80 per vehicle toll will be charged,” he said.

He added that the divisional administration would send a summary to the Punjab government regarding the proposed rates in the coming week.

Published in Dawn, February 22nd, 2026