Rawalpindi Ring Road Nears Completion, April Target Set by RDA

Rawalpindi: The Rawalpindi Development Authority has said that the long-awaited Rawalpindi Ring Road project is likely to be completed by April this year, providing a major boost to the city’s transport infrastructure.

RDA Director General Kinza Murtaza shared the update during a New Year press briefing at the Rawalpindi Press Club, accompanied by Chief Engineer Anwar Baran and Director of Planning Tahir Mayo. She said around 78 percent of the construction work has already been completed, while planning for Phase II of the project is currently underway.

The Ring Road is designed to connect the M-2 motorway and the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor route to Margalla Avenue through the Thalian Interchange. Once completed, the corridor is expected to significantly reduce traffic congestion by diverting heavy vehicles and freight traffic away from central areas of Rawalpindi.

According to the RDA, the project will include dedicated facilities such as a bus and truck terminal, along with a wholesale fruit and vegetable market. Under the proposed traffic management plan, large buses will not be permitted to travel beyond T-Chowk.

The RDA chief added that work is also progressing on a national transport policy, being developed in coordination with relevant authorities, to improve both intercity and intracity mobility. She said the Ring Road would play a central role in future urban planning for the Rawalpindi-Islamabad metropolitan region.

Murtaza also outlined ongoing reforms within the authority, including mandatory tree plantation for new housing schemes, the digitalisation of building and commercialisation processes, and the introduction of electric buses in the city. She further said action would be taken against individuals involved in the RDA financial scandal once investigations are completed, reaffirming the authority’s focus on transparency and accountability in major infrastructure projects.