Rawalpindi’s Ring Road to open without Thalian interchange

RAWALPINDI: The Rawalpindi Ring Road project is approaching completion, with authorities targeting its opening by the end of May. However, the provincial government has decided to postpone construction of the Rs5 billion Thalian interchange on the motorway and instead make the road operational through a temporary two-way carriageway system.

According to a senior official of the divisional administration, the project has entered its final phase. The main corridor has largely taken shape, while landscaping and horticulture work has also begun along the route.

He added that widening work is currently underway at the Thalian junction, where the Ring Road connects with the motorway, as it is expected to handle more than 18,000 vehicles entering the highway daily. Officials say expansion is necessary to prevent traffic congestion and long queues.

Deputy Project Director Ashfaq Sulheri told Dawn that the Thalian interchange will not be constructed immediately. Instead, a two-way carriageway will be used temporarily to ensure smooth traffic flow onto the motorway once the Ring Road becomes operational.

He said certain technical and logistical issues led to the decision to defer the interchange, which will now be taken up after the completion of the main project. The National Highway Authority (NHA) is also expanding the service road network to accommodate increasing traffic pressure.

Sulheri added that a revised PC-I including the Thalian interchange has already been submitted by the Project Management Unit, but priority has been given to making the road functional first.

Regarding construction progress, he said the Punjab government has directed acceleration of work to meet the pre-monsoon deadline. Work is now being carried out in three shifts.

He further stated that major structures are nearing completion, including the Soan Bridge, while girder casting for the railway bridge is underway. Asphalt work has also started, with over 28 kilometres of the 38.3-kilometre road already completed.

Work on interchanges, bridges, and road surfacing is being executed simultaneously to recover delays caused during the monsoon season, with officials aiming to fully stabilize progress by October–November.

The Ring Road project includes five interchanges at Banth, Chak Baili Khan, Adiala Road, Chakri Road, and Thalian, along with an industrial zone planned along the corridor.

Originally estimated at Rs33 billion, the project cost has now escalated to Rs47 billion. Officials indicated that any further cost adjustments will be reviewed upon project completion.