RAWALPINDI RING ROAD: A COMPREHENSIVE GUIDE

RAWALPINDI RING ROAD: A COMPREHENSIVE GUIDE

1. OVERVIEW

Ring Road was much-needed project for the twin cities. There is only one main road and one route that connects Islamabad to major housing schemes of Rawalpindi. People use Express way and then G.T Road to get access to the societies like Bahria Town and PWD.

The Ring Road will connect Rawat to Adyala Road. One side will link to the Sector 1-16 and another will go to the motorway. It will also touch new Islamabad international Airport and end up at Fateh Jang Road.

It will not only give benefit to the road travelers but also the residents of neighboring housing societies will be benefited from this.

Long awaited Rawalpindi Ring Road Project, a scheme that is sign of a new era of development and prosperity in the region. Moreover, Government is going to launch it soon. As Punjab Government is doing all arrangements. Furthermore, it released Rupees. 6.7 billion funds for acquisition of the land. There will also be an economic corridor to boost the local and regional economy by establishing an industrial zone and commercial and business hubs.

The goal to build the ring road is to improve economic connectivity and road transport efficiency in the twin cities  through constructing a ring road and associated facilities. Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA) initiated The Ring Road project in 1991 but couldn’t be executed for a long time.

2. ROUTE OF RAWALPINDI RING ROAD

Rawalpindi Ring Road route will start from Murat to Sangjani. It will lead up to Zero Point. Currently, Rawalpindi Ring Road will pass from Radio Pakistan to Losar. Also to Adyala Road, Chakri Road, and Mouza Murat at the back of New Islamabad Airport. 

Its route will be over 66 km. Around half of the road , 50 kilometers  from Rawat to the Thalian Interchange will fall in Rawalpindi. However,  the remaining part will pass through Islamabad. It will cover the areas of Shah Allah Ditta, Siri Saral, Margalla Road, Kohsar, F- sectors, Bhara Kahu, and Kallar Sayedan before looping back to the starting point at Rawat in Rawalpindi.

Ring road will be 300 ft. in width. It will have commercial areas on both sides. Moreover, this project will also include 6 to 7 flyovers, 8 interchanges and 10 Over Head Bridges as well.

3. INTERCHANGES OF RAWALPINDI RING ROAD

Rawalpindi Ring Road will start from GT Road N-5 Radio Station at Rawat and lead up to GT Road N-5 at Sanjgani. There will be a total of 8 interchanges on the route. Therefore, to help easy access for the traffic to all parts of Islamabad and Rawalpindi.

Following is the list of interchanges planned on Rawalpindi Ring Road:

• Chak Bali Road Interchange
• Channi Bridge Interchange
• GorakhPur Interchange
• Chakri Interchange
• Dhamial Interchange
• Rawat Interchange
• Motorway Interchange
• Adyala Interchange
• Fateh Jang Interchange

4. IMPACT OF RING ROAD ON REAL ESTATE

The development of RRR will definitely increase the charm and appeal of the Islamabad Property Sector. It will especially benefit the projects located near M-2 Motorway. Moreover, the project in the proximity of New Islamabad International Airport will also get the largest benefit from it. Once the project complete, it will open number of investment opportunities with best returns both in Islamabad and Rawalpindi.

The demand for property will increase. Moreover, the issues of moving from society to the main city centers will also solve.

Indeed, this project is catching the attention of both buyers and investors to its adjoining real estate projects. Real estate along Rawalpindi Ring Road is an attractive investment option.  Because this road passes through the least developed lands of Rawalpindi where mostly small villages are settled. Moreover, land is either lying useless or being used for farming. Some housing projects have already launched in this particular area where property prices are already rising day by day.

Investors have started entering this small real estate market. Currently, they have started purchasing large chunks of land on Adyala Road and Chakri Road expecting huge returns in near future. Therefore, this is the right time to make some investment in this particular area to gain good return in next 3 to 5 years.

5. INVESTOR’S PERSPECTIVE

Even if you are an average investor or looking to buy something for future residence, you have plenty of options in private housing schemes. Hence, you can buy small residential and commercial plots at very affordable prices. Such land investments can potentially give you much higher return compared with alternative investment options.

If you compare the current price per Kanal in this particular area with new development areas near Airport, you will come to know that land prices on Chakri Road and Adyala Road are 3 to 4 times lower at present. Once this area connects with Ring Road, land prices are likely to rise even higher due to its proximity with the City and availability of all utilities including fresh water through existing rainwater dams.

6. WHY DO WE NEED RAWALPINDI RING ROAD

Rawalpindi Ring Road is a long-awaited mega development project which is now becoming a reality. This by-pass was much-needed due to three major reasons:

• Majority of traffic including trucks coming from Central Punjab and Northern Punjab pass through Rawalpindi City using Grand Trunk Road N-5 which creates serious traffic issues.
• There is no direct road/by-pass in Rawalpindi to reach Motorway and New Islamabad Airport. So, all such traffic has to pass through the entire city and take Kashmir Highway to reach Motorway and Airport.
• New housing developments are taking place on Adyala Road and Chakri Road, but there is no direct seamless access to these new development areas.

Ring Road project will divert the unnecessary traffic right at the start of the City, thus easing off traffic load from the city. Additionally, RDA will develop new commercial zones along the road where new businesses will establish and flourish.

7. SALIENT FEATURES OF RAWALPINDI RING ROAD

RDA has planned Rawalpindi Ring Road to be a 6-lane signal free highway. Having 110 meters width and 65.5 kilometers length. There will be about 15000 trees planted around the entire route to maintain eco-friendliness of the project. Besides providing a by-pass for traffic currently passing through Rawalpindi City. while creating serious traffic issues. Ring Road is going to establish a whole new development area in Rawalpindi. Hence,  new residential and commercial developments will take place over the next decade. Hence, this new link will facilitate expansion of Rawalpindi City towards Chakri where a majority of private housing projects are already operating.

Rawalpindi Ring Road will precisely have the following salient features:

• Motorway Standards of Service

• 65.5 Kms Length

• 110 Meters Width, 6 Lanes

• 8 Interchanges from Rawat to Sangjani

• 7 Economic Zones

8. ECONOMIC ZONES

Here are several economic zones planned along the Ring Road. Most importantly, it includes new industrial hubs, warehouses, fruit and vegetable markets, residential schemes, farm housing projects, health and education zones, and much more.

Starting right from the origin at N-5 at Rawat, there is a total of 7 economic zones along the route. We will list down each of them below:

Logistics Hub 1

This first economic zone will be located near Radio Pakistan on N-5 GT Road. This zone will comprise:

• Whole sale fruit and vegetable market
• Cattle market
• Dry Port
• Bus and Truck Terminal

Industrial Estate 1

This zone will be located at Chakbeli Interchange. In addition, they will dedicate this zone for establishment of new industries and ware houses for goods.

This zone is for:

• Industrial Hub
• Ware Houses
• Health Facility/Hospital

Residential Estate 1

This residential zone will be at Adyala Interchange and it will be reserved for Government’s housing projects.

This zone will includes:

• RDA’s Housing Scheme
• Farm Houses

Mixed Use Residential Estate 2

This residential zone will be opposite to Residential Estate 1, and it will lie adjacent to Rudn Enclave. This zone will comprise the following:

• RDA’s Housing Scheme
• Sports Complex

Recreational Zone

This zone lies at Chakri Interchange close to Capital Smart City, and they will dedicate this zone for entertainment and leisure activities.

This zone will include:

• Theme Park
• Entertainment Activities

Aerotropolis

RDA has planned this zone right opposite to New Islamabad Airport near Airport Interchange of Rawalpindi Ring Road. This zone will be developed for a number of commercial activities which includes:

• Business Hub
• Expo Centers
• Educational Zone
• Eco Housing

CPEC Zone

This economic zone is near Hakla-D.I Khan Interchange and it will mainly comprise industrial estate, warehouses and cargo terminals

CPEC zone will include:

• Industrial Estate II
• Logistic Hub II
• Dry Port
• Ware Houses
• Truck Terminal

9. ONGOING DEVELOPMENTS ON RAWALPINDI RING ROAD

As per latest information, the Government of Punjab have approved the finalized alignment. Moreover, Government has released funds for land acquisition. They have already finalized and approved everything related to planning including ring road route, alignment, interchanges, designs and economic zones 

As RDA is already working on the tendering process. Once the contract is awarded to companies, physical developments will begin in full swing. Also, the government has set the deadline of completion of Ring Road by mid 2023.

10. INAUGURATION DATE

As per latest information, RDA is planning to hold inauguration ceremony in December 2020.Authorities are yet to finalize the exact date. However Government is making preparations to organize a public event where Prime Minister will be invited to officially inaugurate Rawalpindi Ring Road Project.

11. CONCLUSION

To conclude, Rawalpindi Ring Road is no longer an abstract idea. On the other hand, it is pacing towards becoming a reality very soon. Currently, it is advancing from conceptual phase to development phase in the next 2 months. The Government and relevant departments are working diligently to start mega development projects. In order to revive economic activities, especially related to real estate to attract investments and create new jobs.

Mega development projects not only resolve pending issues but also create new opportunities. Government projects can take time to deliver, but they ultimately do. Risk takers are the ones who gain maximum return on their investment. Therefore,  you do research but take a timely decision before you lose out on this opportunity.

When New Islamabad International Airport was under construction, there were many who thought it wouldn’t make any sense to invest in the neighboring real estate as it would take decades to give good returns. Now things are up and running, project is working and road networks are partly built. Consequently, the same land is hardly affordable for majority of them.

For more real estate related blogs, you can visit our website.