The Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA) announced on Tuesday a Rs. 68,983,836 road rehabilitation programme that will repair Old Airport Road, Rawal Road, sidewalks, storm-water drains and manholes across the city within the next 12 months.
The move ends a twelve-month period during which the authority concentrated on the Rs. 47 billion Rawalpindi Ring Road project and did not launch any new road-repair initiatives.
What the New Rehabilitation Plan Includes
The project, formally titled "Framework Agreement for Rehabilitation/Repair of Roads, Footpaths, Storm Water Drains, Manholes and Road Marking at Different Roads of City," bundles several types of infrastructure work. It will:
- Resurface and patch the pavement of Old Airport Road and Rawal Road, which have been flagged by commuters for potholes and uneven surfaces.
- Reconstruct footpaths along these arteries to provide safer walking conditions.
- Clear, repair and, where needed, replace storm-water drains and manholes to improve rain-water runoff.
- Apply fresh road markings, including lane lines and pedestrian crossings, to enhance traffic safety.
The total estimated cost, taxes included, is Rs. 68,983,836. The RDA expects the works to be completed within a twelve-month window, after which a post-implementation review will assess traffic flow and drainage performance.
Why Old Airport Road and Rawal Road Were Chosen
Both roads are major connectors in the city's northern sector. Old Airport Road links the former airport site with residential neighbourhoods and commercial zones, while Rawal Road runs parallel to the historic Rawal Lake and serves a high volume of commuter traffic. Recent surveys by RDA engineers recorded an average of 15 cm of pavement distress on Old Airport Road and 12 cm on Rawal Road, far exceeding the city's acceptable threshold of 5 cm.
Local residents have repeatedly complained about water-logging during monsoon months, a problem directly tied to clogged storm-water drains. The new plan's focus on drainage is intended to mitigate flooding that has historically disrupted schools, markets and small businesses along these corridors.
Background: The Ring Road Focus and Other Stalled Projects
During the past year the RDA devoted most of its budget and staff to the Rawalpindi Ring Road, a four-lane, 47-kilometre bypass designed to divert heavy traffic away from the city centre. The Ring Road, valued at Rs. 47 billion, has been a flagship infrastructure venture for the Punjab government, absorbing much of the authority's planning capacity.
Because of that focus, several other proposals never left the drafting stage. The expansion of Murree Road from Committee Chowk to Chandni Chowk, a project meant to add two lanes and improve access to the city's commercial hub, was rejected by the Punjab government. Likewise, a repair scheme for the stretch between Faizabad and Marrir Chowk did not receive approval.
RDA also put forward a plan to rehabilitate Chaudhry Bostan Khan Road from Chaklala Scheme III to the Lahore High Court's Rawalpindi bench. That assignment was later transferred to the Punjab Highway Department, leaving RDA without direct control over the work. A proposed underpass linking I.J. Principal Road with Double Road at Shamsabad was similarly turned down, prompting the authority to shift attention toward a commercial plaza and employee housing projects.
How the Project Will Be Approved and Executed
With the rehabilitation proposal now ready, RDA will submit the detailed plan to the Punjab government for final approval. If the provincial authorities sign off, the next step is the preparation of a PC-I (Project Concept-Implementation) document, which outlines technical specifications, cost breakdowns and a timeline for tendering.
Once the PC-I is completed, RDA intends to issue a competitive tender to qualified contractors. The selection process will follow the Punjab Public Procurement Rules, ensuring transparency and value for money. The authority has indicated that it will monitor progress through monthly field inspections and will publish quarterly status reports for public review.
Impact on Residents, Businesses and Traffic Flow
For daily commuters, smoother pavement and clearer markings mean reduced vehicle wear, lower fuel consumption and fewer accidents. Pedestrians will benefit from widened, level footpaths and better lighting, which the RDA plans to install alongside the road markings.
Improved storm-water drainage is expected to cut the frequency and severity of water-logging during the monsoon season. Small traders operating in roadside stalls often lose inventory when streets flood; the new drains aim to keep commercial activity uninterrupted.
From a broader economic perspective, the project signals a shift back toward maintenance of existing urban infrastructure, complementing the longer-term Ring Road that primarily serves inter-city traffic. Maintaining the city's internal road network is essential for sustaining local commerce and for supporting the growing population of Rawalpindi, which the 2023 census recorded at roughly 2.1 million residents.
What to Watch for Next
The immediate milestone is the Punjab government's decision on the proposal, expected within the next six weeks. Observers will also watch the issuance of the PC-I, as its scope will determine the exact contract values and the number of local subcontractors involved.
Stakeholders, including resident welfare associations and business chambers, have pledged to monitor the tendering process and to lobby for timely completion. The RDA has promised to hold a public briefing once contracts are awarded, offering a forum for questions about traffic diversions during construction.
Finally, the success of this modest-scale project could set a precedent for future maintenance-focused initiatives, encouraging the provincial government to allocate more resources to city-level road upkeep alongside mega-projects like the Ring Road.
