National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) projects in Punjab has been significantly impeded due to persistent land acquisition challenges and deteriorating law and order conditions. Among the most affected is the ambitious Delhi-Katra Expressway, a 650-kilometre venture of which 361 kilometres traverse Punjab.
On August 9, Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, issued a stern letter to Punjab Chief Minister urging immediate intervention. Gadkari warned that the NHAI might be forced to cancel eight highway projects in Punjab—spanning 293 kilometres and costing Rs14,288 crore—if the state fails to address the escalating issues. The letter from officials highlighted two alarming incidents: an engineer was viciously attacked in Jalandhar, and a project camp in Ludhiana was assaulted. These events have exacerbated existing problems related to land acquisition and the state’s law and order situation. The ongoing violence has prompted several contractors to seek early termination of their contracts and file claims against the NHAI.
According to data reviewed, many of the projects cited by Gadkari remain substantially incomplete despite work beginning as early as 2021. Notably, the Delhi-Katra-Amritsar bypass, awarded on May 12, 2021, has made no progress due to land acquisition issues in Taran Taran and Amritsar. Similarly, the Ludhiana-Bathinda package-2 and Ludhiana-Rupnagar package-1 have also stalled, with the latter barely achieving 15.31% completion. The NHAI has already terminated three projects in Punjab, amounting to 104 kilometres and Rs3,263 crore in costs. Gadkari’s letter underscored the critical nature of these Greenfield corridors, warning that cancellation of any segment could undermine the entire corridor’s viability.
In response, the Punjab government has convened two high-level meetings. On Monday, Governor and Punjab Chief Secretary met with NHAI officials to discuss project progress and expedite land acquisition. Verma has instructed deputy commissioners to accelerate land acquisition and ensure timely updates to his office. Additionally, FIRs have been filed against those responsible for the recent violence, and arrests have been made. Senior Punjab officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, attribute the delays to protests by farmer unions. Key issues include inadequate compensation for land acquisition, delays in constructing service roads and underpasses, and disputes over the allocation of compensation funds.
The ongoing challenges underscore the complex interplay between infrastructure development, local opposition, and governance, posing significant obstacles to the timely execution of crucial highway projects in Punjab.
