RAWALPINDI: Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA) will start feasibility study on Rawalpindi Ring Road (R3) Phase-II as the Punjab government has allocated Rs54 million for it.

Talking to Dawn, RDA Director General Kinza Murtaza stated that work on the second phase will begin in the fiscal year 2025-26 with construction likely to start after completion of phase I by the end of December.

She explained that the old alignment that was 66 kilometres from Baanth to Sangjani in 2021 was reduced to 38km from Baanth to Thalian.

The government decided to proceed with the remaining section to connect Ring Road with the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and back to G.T. Road in Phase II.

She added that a feasibility studywould be carried out this year, and work on Phase II would begin after completing Phase I from Baanth to Thalian. She also mentioned that an economic zone will be established along the Phase II area.

The director general of RDA said the consultant will provide a report after the feasibility study to determine whether or not the old alignment is better.

She also mentioned a suggestion from Noorul Amin Mengal of Housing and Urban Planning that 500 metre land would be acquired on both sides of Phase-II road so all transport stands for passengers, goods and main grain, fruit, and vegetable markets will be shifted from city to these areas.

Furthermore, she said there were plans to construct an exhibition centre at the junction of CPEC and motorway area where Chinese firms will showcase their products. Chinese firms have requested government assistance for land for the expo centre, but theywill construct the centre from their own funds.

Ms Kinza said that RDA also plans to make industrial zones along the phase II where the industry which would not emit any pollution will be established.

But these will be done after the report of the feasibility study for the next phase of Rawalpindi Ring Road.

Meanwhile, the National Highway Authority (NHA) has submitted a Rs17 billion project to add two more lanes to the motorway from Thalian to G.T.

Road to accommodate the increasing traffic expected after the completion of Phase II of Rawalpindi Ring Road.

When questioned, Ms Kinza confirmed that NHA was already working on adding lanes from Thalian to G.T.

Road to manage the vehicular surge, which has increased significantly in recent years, even though the RRR traffic has yet to commence. She added that work on the ring road is scheduled to be completed by the end of December this year.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 previous PTI government halted work and initiated a new alignment.

As per old alignment, the Rs64 billion road was 66.3 kilometre long from Rewat Radio Pakistan to Thalian, then from Thalian to Sangjani via Murat.

The new alignment is a 38.3 km 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.

A joint venture of Turkish and Pakistani firms recommended proceeding with two phases: from Baanth to Thalian, and for Phase II, hiring a new consultant to determine the best route from Thalian to Sangjani.