RAWALPINDI: As the Rawalpindi Ring Road project worth Rs47 billion is almost complete, the National Engineering Services Pakistan (Nespak) has completed a feasibility report for its second phase.

Nespak has recommended to the Punjab government that the extension of two additional lanes on the motorway would be enough to cater to the traffic to reach G.T. Road instead of making further alignment near Sangjani from Thalian.

A senior official of Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA) told Dawn that the civic body awarded the contract of Rs52 million to the joint venture of Nespak and ACE Private Limited for the feasibility study for the Ring Road Phase II from Thalian to Sangjani. He said that the feasibility study was started in November 2025 and its report was submitted to the RDA in June. He said that the recommendation would be sent to the Punjab government in a day or two.

“The main purpose of the feasibility study is to suggest about the suitable route and there were three options before NESPAK but it recommended to extend two lanes on the existing motorway,” he said.

The official said there were three routes under consideration: Thalian Interchange to Srinagar Interchange, N-80 Interchange to Hakla D.I. Khan Interchange and Srinagar Interchange to N-90 Interchange via Islamabad International Airport.

He said the report recommended that by expanding the existing motorway (M-2) by adding two lanes on each side would reduce substantial additional traffic besides reducing the cost of construction.

“The option-I provides shortest alignment and accommodates a higher traffic capacity with proposed five lanes on each side, making it more suitable for future traffic demand including heavy freight movement,” he said.

It is worth noting that during the tenure of former Prime Minister Imran Khan, the project was initially planned as a 64-kilometre-long road from Rawat to Sangjani via Murat. However, after corruption allegations, the PTI government halted work and initiated a new alignment.

As per the old alignment, the Rs64 billion road was 66.3 kilometres from Rawat Radio Pakistan to Thalian, then from Thalian to Sangjani via Murat. The new alignment is a 38.3km controlled access road which originates from National Highway (N-5) at Baanth, passing through Chakbeli Road, Adiala Road, Chakri Road, and terminating at Motorway M-2 at Thallian Interchange.

Published in Dawn, July 1st, 2026