Rawalpindi: [ReNews Pakistan]
The Rawalpindi Ring Road project has reached 98% completion, with only the installation of the toll plaza remaining before the strategic transport corridor becomes operational. The Punjab government has also approved a dedicated policing and management system to oversee traffic enforcement, security and day to day operations once the road opens to the public.
The progress was reviewed during a high-level meeting chaired by Rawalpindi Commissioner Salman Ghani, where officials presented updates on construction, traffic management arrangements and landscaping plans for the 38.3 kilometre project.
Officials informed the meeting that all major civil works have been completed, including the main carriageway, flyovers, subways, interchanges, nullah bridges, river bridges and railway bridges. Road barriers, lane markings, traffic signboards and street lighting have also been installed, leaving the toll plaza as the final component before completion.
Under the approved operational framework, the Punjab Ring Road Authority will manage the toll plaza, collect tolls in accordance with rates notified by the Punjab government and oversee traffic management along the corridor. A dedicated policing and management system will also be established to ensure effective law enforcement, road safety, security and administrative control.
The Punjab government has so far released more than Rs 29 billion for the project, while the remaining funds are expected to be disbursed in the coming weeks to complete the outstanding works.
During the meeting, Commissioner Ghani directed the relevant departments to accelerate the remaining activities, including landscaping, tree plantation and grassing along both sides of the road, so that the project can be completed and opened to traffic without delay.
Once operational, the Rawalpindi Ring Road is expected to significantly ease congestion by diverting heavy traffic away from the city's urban areas. The project is also expected to improve traffic flow on major routes, including GT Road, Peshawar Road and Murree Road, while reducing travel time, fuel consumption and vehicle emissions. Authorities believe the new corridor will provide safer, faster and more efficient transport, while strengthening regional connectivity and supporting long-term urban and economic development in the Rawalpindi region.

Rawalpindi | ReNews Pakistan
The Punjab government has set August 14, 2026, as the latest target for the inauguration of the long delayed Rawalpindi Ring Road project, marking the sixth completion deadline announced since construction resumed. While authorities remain optimistic about opening the strategic road corridor on Pakistan's Independence Day, a fresh legal dispute over a service area no objection certificate (NOC) has cast uncertainty over the proposed timeline.
The Rawalpindi Ring Road is considered one of Punjab's most significant transport infrastructure projects, designed to ease traffic congestion in Rawalpindi and Islamabad, improve regional connectivity and facilitate smoother movement between the motorway network and surrounding urban areas.
The project has experienced repeated delays over the past several years. During the tenure of former Prime Minister Imran Khan, construction was suspended after allegations emerged regarding changes to the project's alignment and design. The controversy resulted in investigations and the removal of several senior government officials, further delaying implementation.
Following the resumption of construction, the government announced a series of revised completion dates. Earlier targets of December 30, 2025, March 30, 2026, May 30, 2026, June 15, 2026, and June 22, 2026 were all missed due to construction and administrative challenges.
Officials have confirmed that the main carriageway extending from Banth Interchange to the motorway link has now been substantially completed. However, supporting infrastructure is still under development, including the construction of eight toll plazas and 16 toll booths, which remain essential before the motorway can become fully operational.
The latest challenge relates to a disputed No Objection Certificate (NOC) issued for the development of a 102 kanal and 14 marla service area on both sides of the Ring Road. The matter has entered legal proceedings after a division bench of the Lahore High Court suspended an earlier order that had validated the NOC.
The court has fixed July 16 as the next hearing date, and its decision could have a significant impact on the project's inauguration schedule. Depending on the outcome of the proceedings, authorities may either proceed with the planned August 14 opening or face another delay in completing one of Punjab's most anticipated road infrastructure projects.
Once operational, the Rawalpindi Ring Road is expected to reduce urban traffic congestion, improve freight movement, support new commercial and residential developments along its corridor and strengthen transport links between Rawalpindi, Islamabad and the national motorway network.

Rawalpindi | ReNews Pakistan
The Rawalpindi Bench of the Lahore High Court (LHC) has suspended an earlier judicial order that allowed commercial development along the service road of the Rawalpindi Ring Road, temporarily halting a proposed project that included a petrol pump and other commercial facilities.
A division bench comprising Justice Sadaqat Ali Khan and Justice Sardar Akbar passed the interim order while hearing intra court appeals filed by the Punjab government, the Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA), and the Ring Road project administration. The appeals challenge the decision of a single bench that had previously ruled in favor of the petitioner, Mazhar Rahim.
The court admitted the appeals for regular hearing and issued notices to the Commissioner Rawalpindi, the District Petrol Pump Committee, and the petitioner, directing all respondents to submit their replies by July 16.
The legal dispute concerns a commercial development proposal covering 102 kanals and 14 marlas of land located along the Rawalpindi Ring Road. Under the earlier approval granted by the Ring Road administration, the project was planned to include a petrol filling station, a mosque, landscaped green areas, internal service roads, and other supporting infrastructure.
According to court records, the petitioner had obtained a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the RDA Commissioner after completing the required approval process. Following the issuance of the NOC, the petitioner reportedly deposited Rs. 178.413 million in official fees to secure the development rights.
However, the Punjab government and the concerned development authorities challenged the single bench's decision, arguing that the approval required further judicial scrutiny due to legal and administrative concerns surrounding commercial construction along the strategically important Ring Road corridor.
By suspending the earlier judgment, the division bench has effectively placed the commercial development on hold until the appeals are decided. The final outcome of the case could have significant implications for future commercial development, land-use planning, and investment policies along the Rawalpindi Ring Road, one of Punjab's largest ongoing infrastructure projects.
The matter will now proceed after the respondents submit their replies, with the next stage of proceedings scheduled following the July 16 deadline.