The divisional administration has taken the decision to revise Project Concept-I (PC-I) for the Rawalpindi Ring Road (RRR) project due to a significant escalation in the cost of construction materials. Initially estimated at PKR 27 billion, the construction cost of the project is now projected to rise to PKR 31 billion.
A meeting chaired by Commissioner Liaquat Ali Chattha and attended by representatives from the Rawalpindi Division administration, the Project Management Unit of RRR, the Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA), and the Frontier Works Organization (FWO) addressed this issue.
The meeting delved into the substantial increases in the prices of essential construction materials like cement, iron, petrol, and diesel over the past 14 months, necessitating an adjustment in the project cost.
Furthermore, the meeting explored the matter of land acquisition for the project. RDA officials disclosed that 9,000 kanals of land are required for the 38.3-kilometer road, with nearly 70% of the land already secured.
A senior RDA official, whose identity was not revealed, explained that the project initially encompassed 36 villages in its survey, with eight villages (mouzas) situated in Gujar Khan, while the remainder lies in the Rawalpindi Tehsil. Ongoing survey work, including landmarking, is being carried out in the designated area.
Commissioner Liaquat Ali Chattha, who serves as the project director, confirmed the necessity of revising the PC-I for the Rawalpindi Ring Road due to the surge in construction material prices. This revision may result in an increased construction cost of PKR 31 billion.
He also noted that most of the required land has already been acquired, with PKR 300 million remaining for this purpose. The remaining land acquisition will be financed using this allocation.
The decision to revise the PC-I for the Rawalpindi Ring Road project reflects the administration’s commitment to managing budgetary challenges arising from the fluctuating prices of construction materials.