Rawalpindi Ring Road Cost Doubles to Rs. 53 Billion Amid Five-Year Delay

The Rawalpindi Ring Road project, initially estimated to cost Rs. 22.82 billion, has seen its cost soar to an estimated Rs. 53 billion as it remains unfinished five years after its inception. The 38.3-kilometer, six-lane infrastructure project was awarded in March 2022. The cost surge is attributed to repeated delays and revisions, amounting to approximately Rs.

30 billion in additional expenditure. The Punjab government has set multiple completion deadlines and conducted two inauguration preparations, but progress has been sluggish. According to sources within the Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA), about 90 percent of the project is now completed and construction is accelerating. However, the extended delay has sparked concerns over the project's escalating cost and the strain it places on the national budget.

Simultaneously, an investigation into possible alterations to the project's original design was initiated in July. Chief Additional Secretary Ahmed Raza Sarwar requested the complete project record, and disagreements over No Objection Certificates, approved layouts, access roads, and other clearances have escalated to legal proceedings.

Questions regarding design changes in the Ring Road project surfaced in 2022 during the PTI government's rule, leading to the removal of Rawalpindi Commissioner Muhammad Mehmood, Deputy Commissioner Anwar-ul-Haq, and several other officials.