Rs. 5 Billion Thalian Interchange Construction Kicks Off Next Week on Rawalpindi Ring Road
Construction on the Rs. 5 billion Thalian Interchange, a critical junction of the Rawalpindi Ring Road, is scheduled to begin next week, officials confirmed, as land acquisition accelerates and the mega infrastructure project moves closer to completion.
The Rawalpindi Ring Road, a 38.3‑kilometer controlled‑access, six‑lane corridor designed for speeds up to 120 km/h, is now reported at over 80% completion, with major bridge work and asphalt surfacing well underway.
As reported, the divisional administration has convened land acquisition meetings to secure an additional 358 kanals adjacent to the motorway after revising earlier plans.
Initially, 557 kanals were allocated for the interchange, but design changes to accommodate high traffic volumes triggered the expanded requirement. Section 14 notification has already been issued to facilitate the process.
The interchange will link the Ring Road directly with the M‑2 Motorway, expected to funnel over 18,000 vehicles daily, significantly improving connectivity for commuters and freight traffic bypassing urban Rawalpindi.
Contractors have laid 28 kilometers of asphalt, completed work on other interchanges and overpasses, and begun installing lampposts and lighting systems. Water channels are expected to be wrapped up within the coming weeks.
With the addition of the Thalian Interchange, overall project costs have surged to approximately Rs. 47 billion, making it one of the largest transport infrastructure investments in the region.
It was reported earlier that the provincial authorities are pushing ahead with plans for Phase II of the Ring Road, extending connectivity from Thalian to Sangjani and linking with the China‑Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) infrastructure network, a move aimed at boosting regional trade and economic activity once Phase I is operational.