Work on the Rs. 5 billion Thalian Interchange of the Rawalpindi Ring Road project is set to begin next week as the divisional administration starts the process of acquiring additional land for the site.
Officials have scheduled a meeting to acquire 358 more kanals near the motorway after changes were made to the original design. Earlier, 557 kanals had been allocated for the interchange, but revisions increased the land requirement. The administration has already imposed Section 14 to move forward with the acquisition process.
Divisional Commissioner Aamer Khattak chaired a meeting to address issues related to houses located within the project area. Authorities expect the matter to be resolved within the next few days. The Thalian Interchange is considered a critical part of the Ring Road project because it will connect the road directly to the motorway. Officials estimate that more than 18,000 vehicles will merge at this point daily.
The Frontier Works Organisation has been instructed to start construction preparations. According to R3 Deputy Project Director Ashfaq Sulheri, contractors have completed 28 kilometers of asphalt work out of the total 38.3-kilometer stretch.
Work on other interchanges and overpasses has already been completed, while the installation of lampposts and lighting systems is underway. Jersey barriers have been installed, and water channels are expected to be completed within the next two weeks.
With the addition of the Thalian Interchange, the total cost of the Rawalpindi Ring Road project has risen to Rs. 47 billion. The project will include five interchanges and function as a six-lane controlled access corridor with a design speed of 120 kilometers per hour.
Authorities have also decided to follow the toll model used for the Lahore Ring Road. The proposed toll rate is Rs. 80 per vehicle, and a summary will be sent to the Punjab government next week for approval.
