NHAI fast-tracks ₹2,792-cr expressway in Punjab

The National Highways Authority of India has fast tracked work on the 116-km long Ludhiana-Ropar greenfield expressway project involving an investment of ₹2,792 crore. It has already taken over the physical possession of over 50 per cent of the total land required and is going all out to acquire the remaining portion of land needed to build the expressway project. The development assumes significance because of the stiff resistance by the farmers to part with their land coming under the planned Ludhiana-Ropar expressway.

The Chief Secretary, Vijay Kumar Janjua, reviewed the progress of the project and directed the officials concerned to further expedite the land acquisition proceedings to pave way for the construction of the 84.9-km stretch of the expressway on National Highway-205-K, which the NHAI has approved as 4-6 access-controlled highway with a route alignment connecting Manewal village in Ludhiana on the upcoming Delhi-Amritsar-Katra expressway with Bheora village near Ropar, falling in Ludhiana district. Officials engaged in the acquisition of land informed that land required for 18.9-km of the total 37.7-km length of the highway under Package-I of the project has already been taken over while the possession of at least 70 per cent of the total 260 hectares of the land required for Package-I falling in the district will be handed over to NHAI soon.