Rawalpindi Ring Road Opening Delayed Again

The Rawalpindi Ring Road will not open on November 6, pushing the project into another missed target and leaving motorists waiting a little longer for a faster route around the city. reportedly the delay is tied to unfinished toll booths and weigh stations, which officials want ready before traffic is allowed onto the road.

This is now the eighth postponed opening target for the project. A new date has not been announced yet.

Why the November 6 opening slipped again

Reportedly, the Punjab Ring Road Authority wants the tolling system and weigh stations to be fully operational before the road opens. The concern is simple: the route should not start carrying traffic until the collection system is in place and heavy vehicles can also be checked properly.

When a new date is finalised, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz is expected to inaugurate the project at Banth Interchange.

For readers who have followed earlier updates, DrivePK had already reported that toll plaza work was one of the main reasons behind delays on the project: Rawalpindi Ring Road Opening Delayed by Toll Plaza Work.

What is ready on the project

The main Rawalpindi Ring Road route is reported to be complete. It runs 38.3km from Banth Interchange to the Thalian motorway link.

Completed interchanges include:

• Banth

• Chak Beli Khan

• Adiala

• Chakri

The Thalian Interchange remains unfinished because it is part of a wider design. The third revised PC-I for the project has been approved at Rs50.4 billion, and that figure includes the Thalian Interchange cost.

A previous DrivePK update also covered the Thalian side of the project: Thalian Interchange Work Starts Next Week on Rawalpindi Ring Road, Cost Now Rs 47 Billion.

What the delay means for drivers

For Rawalpindi drivers, this means the road is still not available as a bypass between GT Road and the motorway network. Heavy traffic will keep using city roads for now, which means congestion is likely to stay the same until the project opens.

Businesses and transport operators should also hold off on changing routes or delivery plans until there is an official opening announcement. The current target has already moved from earlier dates, so commuters should not build travel plans around November 6.

What to watch next

The next opening date will likely depend on progress at:

• toll booths

• weigh stations

• the Thalian Interchange

Until that work is completed, the road may be physically ready in large parts, but it is not yet operational.

For now, the clear message for motorists is to keep using existing routes and allow extra travel time until the government confirms a new launch date.

Explore DrivePK services

Buying or selling a vehicle? Explore DrivePK services, including car inspection, Sell It For Me and Featured Listings, and choose the option that fits your needs.

For more updates, visit DrivePK.com