In Pakistan approval has been given by the government’s Central Development Working Party (CDWP) for the Rawalpindi Ring Road. The work is expected to cost close to US$139 million. The bypass will connect the N-5 at Baanth with the M-2 route at Thalian and the proposed design will feature six flyovers, 10 overhead bridges and three major interchanges. It will also help to improve transport to and from the New Islamabad International Airport.
Pakistan’s Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) has yet to give its final say on the proposal. Funding has yet to be secured for the project, which will be managed by the Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA). The project has been discussed for many years but now looks closer to being realised.