Ring Road cost rises to Rs53.5 billion

The state-of-the-art Rawalpindi Ring Road project, which has remained delayed for 24 years, has turned into a white elephant, while the recent torrential rains have caused a section of the road to start sinking at the Banth starting points. As the inauguration date has repeatedly been "deadlined", a decision has now been taken to open the Ring Road for traffic without an inauguration ceremony. The estimated cost of the Rawalpindi Ring Road has recently been increased by a record Rs6 billion due to a huge rise in petroleum product and building material prices, taking the total estimated cost to a record Rs53.5 billion. The 38.3-kilometre-long Ring Road has five interchanges, of which four have been completed while the fifth remains incomplete. Despite the fifth interchange not being complete, officials repeatedly announced inauguration dates. So far, four of the five interchanges - Banth, Chakri, Adiala and Chakbeli Khan - have been completed, while the Thalian interchange is still incomplete, with 10 per cent of its work remaining and being carried out at a fast pace. The Thalian interchange is the last interchange of the Ring Road and will connect it with the M-2 motorway. The carpeting of the Ring Road has been completed, while work on its beautification, fencing, lighting and preparation of signboards is under way. Twenty years ago, the total estimated cost of the project was Rs5 billion, which due to poor planning, political interference and repeated stoppage of funds has now reached a record Rs53.5 billion. A further increase of Rs2-3 billion has quietly been kept possible due to rising petroleum product and building material prices. It has now been decided to open the Ring Road for traffic without any ceremony, while a formal inauguration ceremony will be held suddenly on any holiday afterwards merely to fulfil the formal requirement. Rawalpindi Division Commissioner Salman Ghani said the game-changing Ring Road project had entered its completion phase and its pace and quality were being ensured through daily review meetings. Addressing a meeting at the Rawalpindi commissioner's office, he said 99 per cent of the project had been completed and the remaining work should also be completed at the earliest so that the project could be opened to the public. The commissioner said the Rawalpindi Ring Road project was a major gift from the Punjab chief minister for the people of Rawalpindi. The project would not only improve traffic flow but also promote economic activities. He directed that all interchanges, service roads and encroachments be reviewed and all roads linked with the project be made usable for traffic. Green belts and plantation should be developed along the Ring Road to reduce environmental pollution.