{
  "id": 15703427,
  "title": "Toll plazas still incomplete as Rawalpindi Ring Road cost escalates to Rs50.4bn",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/20/toll-plazas-still-incomplete-as-rawalpindi-ring-road-cost-escalates",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-20T05:02:11.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Dawn - Pakistan",
    "slug": "dawn-pakistan",
    "url": "https://www.dawn.com/news/2038367/toll-plazas-still-incomplete-as-rawalpindi-ring-road-cost-escalates-to-rs504bn"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Despite the escalating cost of the Rawalpindi Ring Road project, toll plaza construction remains incomplete, with officials predicting the road will open to traffic in early November. The Provincial Development Working Party (PDWP) revised the project's cost to Rs50.4 billion for the third time since work began, yet assured that further escalation would not occur. The 38.3-kilometer road, spanning Baanth to Thalian, acquired 8,992 kanals at a cost of Rs6.7 billion, but land acquisition expenses were excluded from the total project cost. Installation of transportation systems and electronic toll collection will take an additional two weeks. In January 2026, the Rawalpindi Development Authority initially sought a Rs51 billion escalation, but the PDWP only approved a 38% increase, citing a 61% rise in construction material costs and a change in the PC-I for the Thalian interchange. The Ring Road's design speed will reach 120 km/h, with five interchanges, six controlled-access lanes, and a 90-meter right of way. Two bridges will span rivers, 12 will cross nullahs, and additional infrastructure, including a railway bridge and overpasses, will be constructed. The project's cost increased due to changes in toll plaza structures, price escalations, and revised plans for the Thalian interchange. While the 38.3-kilometer road is complete, toll plaza construction continues, with officials estimating completion by October's end. The Punjab government plans to officially open the road to traffic in the first or second week of November.",
  "summary": "RAWALPINDI: Despite the cost of Rawalpindi Ring Road project rising from Rs47 billion to Rs50.4 billion for the third time since work began, the construction of toll plazas still remains incomplete. However, officials concerned claimed that the road will be opened to traffic in the first week of November. The Provincial Development Working Party (PDWP) approved the third revised PC-I worth Rs50.4…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}