Punjab Chief Minister Secures Centre’s Assurance on Long-Pending Highway Expansion and Infrastructure Acceleration After High-Level Meeting with Union Minister Nitin Gadkari

During the meeting, Chief Minister Mann strongly raised Punjab’s demand to declare strategically important road corridors as National Highways, including the Ferozepur–Fazilka corridor near the international border. He emphasized the urgent need to fast-track delayed infrastructure projects that have remained incomplete for years. The Centre reportedly agreed to four-lane the Bhawanigarh–Sunam–Bhikhi–Kotshamir road passing through multiple districts, while also supporting expansion of the Barnala–Bazakhana and Malerkotla–Barnala corridors, aimed at improving connectivity, economic movement, and public safety.

The Chief Minister highlighted the importance of the Vallah flyover in Amritsar, which was awarded by the National Highways Authority of India and originally scheduled for completion by September 15, 2023. Despite multiple deadline extensions, including a revised completion target of April 30, 2026, only 76 percent of the project has been completed. Mann stressed that the corridor connecting Amritsar Airport and Sri Harmandir Sahib experiences heavy traffic, including VIP movement, and delays are causing congestion and safety concerns. He urged immediate steps to ensure timely completion.

Raising another key infrastructure issue, Mann called for four-laning of the Jalandhar–Hoshiarpur–Manali road, known as National Highway 70. He noted its religious, tourism, economic, and strategic importance as it connects major pilgrimage destinations in Himachal Pradesh, including Mata Chintpurni Temple, Mata Jawala Ji Temple, Mata Chamunda Devi Temple, Dharamshala, Manali, and Palampur, with various districts of Punjab. The Chief Minister also emphasized its strategic relevance due to proximity to Adampur Airport, which serves the Doaba region and hosts VIP movement. He informed that although the project was approved in 2016, the contractor had later withdrawn, and the detailed project report has already been submitted to the ministry for approval.

Mann further demanded the declaration of the Chandigarh–Landran–Chunni–Sirhind road as a National Highway, describing it as a historically significant link connecting Sahibzada Ajit Singh Nagar district with Fatehgarh Sahib district. He noted that the road passes through key religious and historical locations, including Gurdwara Singh Shaheedan Sahib in Sohana, and witnesses heavy traffic, particularly during the annual Shaheedi Sabha in Fatehgarh Sahib, when millions of devotees visit to pay tribute to Sahibzada Zorawar Singh Ji and Sahibzada Fateh Singh Ji. He also highlighted the intersection of this road with the Bharatmala project’s Ambala–Chandigarh greenfield highway at Jhajhjeri.

The Chief Minister also pressed for declaring the Dharmkot–Zira–Ferozepur–Fazilka corridor as a National Highway, citing its strategic, defense, and cross-border significance near the international boundary. He stated that the Indian Army has consistently advocated for widening the corridor to four lanes to ensure faster and safer movement of military vehicles. The 144.555-kilometer stretch has recorded a higher fatal accident rate than national highways, with 11 identified black spots and 162 accidents between 2020 and 2022 in the Ferozepur–Fazilka section, including 138 severe cases, underscoring urgent safety upgrades.

Mann also sought National Highway status for the Balachaur–Hoshiarpur–Dasuya road, which connects major highway corridors and serves as a critical link between Chandigarh, Mohali, Pathankot, and Jammu and Kashmir. He highlighted its heavy traffic load, lack of divider infrastructure, frequent congestion, and high accident risk.

In addition, the Chief Minister raised safety concerns regarding the installation of view-cutting barriers on the flyover at Husnar Chowk in Gidderbaha on the Bathinda–Malout road, citing dense residential and commercial activity in the area. He stressed the need for improved safety measures and smoother traffic flow.

Mann also advocated four-laning and National Highway status for the 53.76-kilometer Bhawanigarh–Sunam–Bhikhi–Kotshamir road, noting its importance for connectivity between Patiala, Sangrur, Bathinda, Mansa, Talwandi Sabo, and Sirsa. He pointed out that abrupt transitions from four-lane to two-lane stretches create congestion and accident risks, and emphasized that adequate right of way already exists for expansion.

The Chief Minister further urged declaration of several additional roads as National Highways, including the Banga–Garhshankar–Sri Anandpur Sahib road, Barnala–Bazakhana road, Barnala–Malerkotla via Sherpur road, and Bhawanigarh–Bhiki–Kotshamir and adjoining stretches, citing their economic, agricultural, industrial, and tourism significance across the Malwa region and beyond.

He also requested construction of an elevated corridor or flyover in Bhawanigarh to address severe congestion, given the town’s dense commercial development along both sides of the highway. Mann further called for the release of pending payments under the Central Road and Infrastructure Fund scheme under the Setu Bandhan program, stating that delayed funds were hampering ongoing construction work across Punjab.

Additionally, he demanded early completion of the railway overbridge at Makhu on National Highway 54. He also briefed Union Minister Nitin Gadkari on the state’s Road Safety Force initiative, which was appreciated for its contribution to saving lives and improving highway safety.

Concluding the meeting update on his social media account, Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann stated that extensive discussions were held on National Highways Authority of India projects and other Punjab-related issues, with particular appreciation expressed by the Union Minister for the state’s road safety initiative aimed at protecting lives and property.