Rawalpindi Ring Road Inauguration Delayed Again as Cost Crosses Rs52 Billion

The inauguration of the Rawalpindi Ring Road has been postponed for a ninth time, with the project authority declining to announce a fresh date for the ceremony. According to officials, the ceremony will now be arranged at just 24 hours' notice, and the road is expected to be opened to general traffic before the formal event takes place.

Construction work on the corridor is still incomplete. Crews have yet to finish one interchange, while the toll plazas, toll booths, computerized toll collection system and weighing stations also remain unfinished. The Rawalpindi Ring Road Authority has directed contractors to complete the remaining interchange and the full toll collection infrastructure, including the booths, by the end of this month.

Officials who had repeatedly announced inauguration dates despite the incomplete construction have reportedly faced severe reprimands. Following the warnings, they have stopped commenting publicly on the matter.

Repeated delays have pushed the project's cost steadily higher. The estimated cost had already reached Rs51.32 billion before crossing the Rs52 billion mark again during the current week, underscoring the financial impact of the prolonged timeline.

Work on the Rawalpindi Ring Road has now dragged on for 24 years. Former Prime Minister Imran Khan laid the project's foundation stone in March 2022, and the road is intended to ease traffic pressure and improve connectivity in the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad.

The repeated postponements have raised questions about project oversight and contractor performance, with observers noting that the rising cost and uncertain inauguration timeline are likely to remain a concern for residents and policymakers alike.