15/01/2026
Rawalpindi, as part of the twin cities with Islamabad, relies on a network of major highways and ongoing infrastructure projects for stream access and connectivity. The key roads you mentioned—Islamabad Expressway, GT Road (N-5), Thalian Interchange, and the Rawalpindi Ring Road—form critical arteries for local, intercity, and motorway travel.
Islamabad Expressway (also known as Faisal Avenue or Islamabad Highway)
This is a major controlled-access expressway linking central Islamabad to Rawalpindi and beyond. It runs approximately 28 km north-south:
Starts at Zero Point Interchange (near Faisal Mosque and Srinagar Highway in Islamabad).
Ends at Rawat T-Chowk on GT Road (N-5) in the southern part of the area.
Provides signal-free travel, with key interchanges including Faizabad, IJP Road, Old Airport, Gulberg, DHA, and others.
It serves as the primary direct connector between Islamabad's core sectors (e.g., Blue Area, F/G sectors) and Rawalpindi, handling heavy commuter and commercial traffic.
GT Road (N-5 National Highway)
The historic Grand Trunk Road (N-5) is one of Pakistan's busiest national highways, passing through Rawalpindi's urban core:
It connects Lahore to Peshawar via Rawalpindi/Islamabad.
In Rawalpindi, it runs through congested areas like Saddar, Committee Chowk, and extends to Rawat.
Serves as the eastern/southern entry point for many local roads and is a major bottleneck for through-traffic (heavy vehicles, intercity buses).
The Islamabad Expressway terminates here at Rawat, and the upcoming Rawalpindi Ring Road starts near here (at Banth/Channi Sher Alam bridge area).
Thalian Interchange
This is a key motorway interchange on the M-2 Lahore-Islamabad Motorway:
Located near the New Islamabad International Airport (about 8 km away).
Provides direct access from the M-2 to surrounding areas, including the airport, Rawalpindi's southern/western outskirts, and emerging developments.
It is being remodeled/expanded as part of the Rawalpindi Ring Road project to handle increased traffic and integrate better connectivity.
Important for travelers coming from Lahore/Punjab on M-2, offering quick airport access without entering central Rawalpindi/Islamabad.
Rawalpindi Ring Road (RRR or R3 Project)
This is a major ongoing infrastructure project designed to bypass Rawalpindi's congested city center:
A 38.3 km, six-lane controlled-access highway.
Starts from Banth Interchange on GT Road (N-5) near Rawat/Channi Sher Alam bridge.
Ends at Thalian Interchange on the M-2 Motorway (near Islamabad International Airport).
Features five major interchanges: Banth (GT Road), Chak Beli Khan, Adiala Road, Chakri Road, and Thalian.
Purpose: Divert heavy through-traffic from GT Road/N-5, reduce congestion in Rawalpindi's core, improve links to motorways (M-2, and indirectly M-1), airport, and southern/peri-urban areas.
Benefits housing societies and developments along Chakri, Adiala, and Chak Beli Khan roads.
As of early 2026, the project is around 78% complete (per RDA updates), with a revised completion target for Phase 1 around March-April 2026 (delayed from earlier 2025 deadlines due to factors like flooding, material costs, and Thalian Interchange redesign).
Future plans include Phase 2 extensions (e.g., Thalian to Hakla/Sangjani for fuller ring connectivity around Islamabad).
These roads collectively improve stream access in Rawalpindi by:
Linking central Rawalpindi/Islamabad to motorways and the airport via Thalian.
Providing bypass options (Ring Road) to avoid GT Road congestion.
Enhancing overall connectivity for daily commutes, logistics, and regional travel.
Once the Ring Road is fully operational, it will significantly ease traffic on GT Road and Islamabad Expressway by rerouting heavy vehicles. For real-time traffic or exact access points, check local apps or RDA updates, as construction may cause temporary disruptions.
