RAWALPINDI: More than 38 kilometres long, the Rawalpindi Ring Road (R3) worth Rs32.996 billion is likely to be completed by the end of this year as per the deadline fixed by the Punjab government.

The project is said to be a game-changer in the region due to its economic effects and its potential role in ending traffic congestion in the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad.

Rawalpindi and Islamabad, referred to as the twin cities, are home to a population of about 3.5 million. The national highway N-5, the main northsouth arterial linlç traverses Rawalpindi city. Islamabad`s transportation system links the N-5 through Islamabad Expressway to the south near Rawat, and the IJP road connects N-5 near Koh-i-Noor Mills in the north of Rawalpindi.

All the freight transport moves through the urban centre using N-5, causing congestion. Therefore, the Punjab government planned a ring road to move this heavy traffic out of the urban limits. Starting from Baanth on GT Road and extending 38.8km till the Thallian Interchange on Motorway M-2, the Rawalpindi Ring Road is a crucial infrastructure project for the region.

Under the jurisdiction of the Rawalpindi Development Authority(RDA),theRawalpindi Ring Road project aims to improve transportation and connectivity within and aroundRawalpindi, offering various benefits, including reduced travel time, enhanced access to key areas like the New Islamabad International Airport, and economic development through new commercial zones. The ring road will also link to the CPE C (ChinaPakistan Economic Corridor), enhancing regional connectivity.

It was said that after completion of the road, all the business activities will likely move around the road as the provincial government is working to establish economic zones besides the district`s master plan, likely to be approved by the end of this year.

Though the Ring Road was planned in the early 90s, the work could not get started. The Frontier Works Organisation (FWO) is the contractor, and it is working on the project to complete it.For the road, 8,992 kanals of land had been acquired for Rs6.7 billion. The amount of the land acquisition was not added to the total construction cost of the project. The road will operate at a design spee d of 120km/h with five interchanges and sixlane controlled access and 90 metres right of way. Two bridges on the Soan and Sill rivers, 12 bridges on different nullahs and roads, and there is one railway bridge for the main line near Baanth, besides 11 overpasses.

Five interchanges are Baanth, Maira Mohra, Khasala, Kolian Parr and Thalian.

The PTI had planned a 68km R3 project, but later started the work on 38.3km road from Baanth on the Grand Trunk Road to Thallian on the motorway.

Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA) DirectorGeneral Kinza Murtaza told Dawn that after getting the nod of the Executive Committee of National Economic Council (Ecnec) for the revised PC-I of the project worth over Rs33 billion, the Frontier Works Organisation had stepped up the work and made 50 per cent progress. She claimed it would complete the project by the end of December.

She said that the Punjab government grante d R s12 billion in January and Rs7 billion had been spent so far and Rs5 billion would be spent by the end of June 2025. She said that the provincial government would allocate the remaining amount in the next fiscal year.

Talking about the benefits of the project, she said that it would end the traf fic congestion in the cities while increasing business activities.