The Rawalpindi Ring Road is expected to open for traffic in July, as work on the Rs. 47 billion mega infrastructure project enters its final phase.
Project officials said only finishing works remain before the road is handed over to the Punjab government for its formal inauguration. Crews are currently completing landscaping, lane markings, drainage systems, fencing, road signage, and street lighting.
The 38.3-kilometre expressway has been designed to improve connectivity around Rawalpindi and reduce congestion on existing road networks. Once operational, the road will have a maximum speed limit of 120 km/h and is expected to carry more than 30,000 vehicles daily.
Authorities also plan to introduce a toll collection system similar to the one currently operating on the Lahore Ring Road.
The route extends from Baanth on GT Road to Thalian, near the motorway, and features five interchanges located at:
- Baanth
- Maira Mohra
- Khasala
- Kolian Par
- Thalian
Officials estimate the Ring Road will divert 25 to 30 percent of regular traffic and approximately 70 percent of heavy freight vehicles from existing roads, significantly easing congestion in both Rawalpindi and Islamabad.
The project is also expected to support future economic development, with plans for an industrial zone along the Ring Road corridor. Additionally, construction of the Thalian Interchange is scheduled to begin after the completion of the main Ring Road project.
Once inaugurated, the Rawalpindi Ring Road is expected to become one of Punjab’s key transport corridors, improving travel efficiency, enhancing regional connectivity, and facilitating the movement of commercial traffic across the twin cities.
