The completion of the Rawalpindi Ring Road is now expected between May 30 and June 30, following delays in the construction of the broad-based Thallian Interchange, which will link the project to the motorway network.

Meanwhile, 88 per cent of work on the Kachehry Chowk Interchange Project—comprising flyovers and underpasses—has been completed, and it is likely to be opened to traffic by May 10.

Both projects are expected to be inaugurated by Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz. Authorities are also considering the option of opening them to traffic prior to their formal inauguration.

Rapid progress continues on the Rawalpindi Ring Road project, with approximately 70 per cent of carpeting work already completed, while the remainder is ongoing.

However, construction work on several bridges along the route, as well as five interchanges at Banth, Chak Beli Khan Road, Adiala Road, Chakri Road and Thallian, is still underway.

The 38.6-kilometre route, extending from Banth Interchange on GT Road to Thallian Interchange, is estimated to cost Rs42 billion. The previously designed Thallian Interchange is being upgraded to a broad-based interchange at an additional cost of Rs5b.

In addition, under the supervision of the National Highway Authority (NHA), linking routes to Motorways M-1 and M-2, as well as a connection to Sangjani, are yet to be completed, incurring further expenditure.

Plans are also in place to utilise 500 metres of land on both sides of the Ring Road for the establishment of transport terminals, fruit and vegetable markets, an expo centre, an IT zone, education and health zones, and industrial areas.

On the other hand, the Kachehry Chowk project—featuring two flyovers, three underpasses, and a broad-based pedestrian overhead bridge—is nearing completion. According to sources within the executing agency, the Communication and Works Department, the project is expected to be completed by May 10, although a formal opening date has yet to be finalised.

The Kachehry Chowk scheme, the largest road infrastructure project in Rawalpindi since the Rawalpindi Metro Bus Project, carries an estimated cost of Rs5.974b and is fully funded by the Punjab government.