The multi-billion-rupee Rawalpindi Ring Road project is now expected to be completed in mid-April, instead of March 30 of the current year. Earlier, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz had set a deadline for the project’s completion in 2025, but this target was not met.
Currently, 90 per cent of the structural work, including all bridges, even the railway bridge, has already been completed. However, work on Phase II of the Rawalpindi Ring Road, as well as the proposed project to convert Thalian Interchange into a wide-based interchange, has not yet been completed.
It should be noted that plans have been made to utilise 500 meters of land on both sides of the road for transport terminals, markets, education and health facilities, industrial zones, an expo centre and entertainment areas.
The Rawalpindi Ring Road route starts from Banth Mor on GT Road and ends at Thalian Interchange on the motorway after covering a distance of 38.6 kilometres. The cost of the project has increased from Rs33 billion to Rs50 billion.
On the other hand, the Rawalpindi Ring Road project will see the plantation of 80,000 saplings along both sides of its 38-kilometre route as part of a large-scale beautification and environmental initiative. The sources revealed that plantation work will begin after the boundary fencing is installed on both sides of the Ring Road to ensure the protection of the plants.
The Parks and Horticulture Agency (PHA) will carry out a large-scale plantation drive along the entire stretch of the Rawalpindi Ring Road as the project approaches completion.
The initiative will include both local tree species and fruit-bearing trees to improve the environment and enhance the corridor’s scenic beauty.
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