In the Punjab, work on 34 schemes being executed by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), such as the Katra-Amritsar-Delhi Expressway, has slowed down considerably. The NHAI personnel and contractors have been attacked due to disputes over land acquisition while farmers and local leaders have mounted strong opposition leading to major roadblocks for the projects.

The fact that in the fiscal year 2023-24, tenders were issued for only 84.02 km of road network shows how much NHAI’s projects in Punjab have been delayed. It is just 18% of the tenders floated in 2022-23 when tenders for 450.53 km were invited. In comparison, tendering was done for 326.07 km in 2021-22—clearly indicating a massive fall in activity during last year vis-a-vis the preceding two years.

According to Union Minister Nitin Gadkari who informed Lok Sabha about this issue said the development of national highways is an ongoing process that faces multiple challenges and different types of problems come up from time to time at different locations involved in these projects. Streamlining and accelerating land acquisition has been done by the government so far along with simplifying the Parivesh portal meant for forest & environmental clearances among other steps taken by it towards achieving faster results. He also stated that meetings are held with state departments as well as other stakeholders concerned where necessary actions are taken but despite all these efforts some states including Punjab still face delays thereby becoming the most affected ones, therefore three projects covering 104km worth Rs crore have already been shelved by NHAI.

Land acquisition has been halted because farmers do not agree with compensation rates offered by authorities; Sangrur district alone accounts for around 34 kilometers having completed highway construction while Malerkotla district saw the creation of almost the entire expressway save about four-five kilometers remaining thereon, more than forty kilometers pass through Ludhiana district where approximately thirty kilometers continue being problematic due to land acquisition challenges arising out of disputes over rates with farmers.

Delhi Katra Expressway Benefits

According to traffic expert Rahul Verma, this highway is important for security reasons because it will enable faster movement of troops during emergencies. It is also expected to boost religious tourism and bring development faster in districts like Sangrur, Malerkotla, Kapurthala, and Gurdaspur among others which will in turn help grow Punjab’s economy through quicker transportation of goods.

Delhi To Katra Distance Reduction

The 699 km long Delhi-Amritsar-Katra Greenfield Expressway is expected to significantly reduce travel time. The expressway is currently at a revised cost of Rs 40,000 crore. Once completed the journey from Delhi to Amritsar will take four hours while the same from Katra to Delhi will take six hours. Currently, the distance from Delhi to Katra stands at 727 km which will come down by 58 km upon completion of this expressway. The highway will connect Delhi with Goindwal and Tarn Taran while also linking Amritsar with Nakodar. The project is called the North-South Corridor Expressway system underBharatmala Pariyojana

Why Expressway Project Getting Delayed

• Package-9 of the Delhi-Amritsar-Katra Expressway, worth Rs 2,337.33 crore, has seen only 56.84% of its work completed and its revised deadline is set to August 1, 2025.
• The revised deadline for the Package-7 project has been extended till November 30, 2024. The Rs 1,711.03 crore project covers a distance of 36.94 km with work complete in the proportion of 88.44%.
• For Package-10 costing Rs 2,260.67 crore and covering a stretch of 39.5 km; only 57.75% of work has been completed as yet.
• Amritsar connectivity project costing Rs 2,165.23 crores for a length of Spur-1 (16.90 km) now is supposed to be finished by April 16th,2026.
• The new target date for completion of the Package 12 is December 31st,2025. This package is spread across a distance of about(35 km)and it costs around ₹1734.18 crores.
• 44..96 km Abohar-Fazilka NH-7 project is expected to be completed on April13 ,2026.

Union minister @NitinGadkari’s communiqué to chief minister @BhagwantMann to set his house in order after the termination of 3 NHAI projects of the Delhi- Amritsar- Katra Expressway worth Rs 3,263 crore and the potential cancellation of 8 more projects worth Rs 14,288 crore… pic.twitter.com/10ZNjwpT7K

— Harsimrat Kaur Badal (@HarsimratBadal_) August 10, 2024

Threats to Arson at Ludhiana Project Office

In Ludhiana, the people protesting against land acquisition have threatened the Project camp office to get it burnt. Taking note seriously Chief Secretary Anurag Verma directed DGP Gaurav Yadav to ensure the safety of NHAI officials and contractors describing the situation as grave. Although FIR was registered no arrests have been made in this regard. NHAI Regional Officer Vipnesh Sharma apprised the chief secretary of concerns regarding the safety of NHAI personnel/contractors/their staff etc..

Contractors and Officials Abandon Jalandhar Site

Contractors and officials associated with NHAI have abandoned the site in Jalandhar after a contractor’s employee was brutally attacked by villagers on July 20. An FIR was filed but the accused villagers were immediately given bail. These people have also filed cases against NHAI and contractors for digging soil for the highway and officials claim that they are purchasing the soil but they are stuck between carrying out their work or dealing with legal matters as the government has failed to acquire land required and NHAI has not been able to take possession while local leaders keep staging protests which further create problems for them.

Fraud Allegations In Amritsar Land Acquisition

In Amritsar district, there have been obstructions on the road leading to Dera Baba Nanak where farmers halted the project due to their protest after which it was stopped. Farmers are not getting adequate compensation for land being acquired under this project claimed Ratna Singh Randhawa leader Jamhoori Kisan Sabha (Democratic Peasants Union ), some agricultural land has been shown as commercial by officials falsely and many commercial buildings came up alongside the expressway route, it is alleged that some officials connived with land mafias in order make more money indulging themselves illegitimate activities, however, these matters were enquired into but no action taken against guilty persons thus leaving farmers exploited economically.