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Time of India
7 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Land woes stall Rs 12.7k-cr highway projects in Punjab
Chandigarh: Over a dozen major national highway projects worth about Rs 12,700 crore in Punjab have either been stalled, delayed or face termination, primarily due to persistent land acquisition hurdles and delays in statutory clearances, the Union ministry of road transport and highways has informed Parliament. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now In a reply to an unstarred question by Congress MP Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa, Union road transport and highways minister Nitin Gadkari said several infrastructure projects being executed by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) and the Punjab public works department (PWD) are experiencing significant setbacks. Key packages of the Delhi-Amritsar-Katra expressway are among the affected NHAI-implemented projects. The Amritsar connectivity spur II, sanctioned at Rs 2,197.17 crore for a length of 30.05 km, was terminated due to non-availability of land, with fresh bids to be invited once possession is secured. Spur III, which covers 28.1km and sanctioned at Rs 1,951.7 crore, is ongoing but delayed, with a revised completion date of Nov 30, 2026. The Amritsar-Bathinda (package I) project, costing Rs 1,229.38 crore over 39 km, commenced on Nov 14, 2022, and was initially scheduled for completion by Nov 13, 2024. It is now expected to be completed by Dec 31, 2026, due to land acquisition issues. Likewise, Amritsar–Ghoman–Tanda–Una (Package-I), sanctioned at Rs 1,443.47 crore for 45.73 km, is delayed for similar reasons and is now targeted for completion by Jun 30, 2026. Package II of the same corridor, measuring 31.05 km and valued at Rs 818.41 crore, has been terminated due to land unavailability. Another delayed NHAI project is the Amritsar (Airport Junction)–Ramdas (Package-IV) stretch, sanctioned at Rs 416.58 crore for 38.978 km. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The project began on March 16, 2022, with an initial completion deadline of Sept 15, 2023, but is now projected to finish by Sept 30, 2025, due to delays in acquiring land. In the Ludhiana–Rupnagar corridor, package I, which covers 37.7 km at a cost of Rs 1,368.91 crore, commenced on Dec 12, 2022. The concessionaire issued a termination notice citing delays in land handover and has demobilised resources from the site. The matter is under conciliation through the Conciliation Committee of Independent Experts (CCIE). Meanwhile, package II, spanning 47.24 km and sanctioned at Rs 1,488.23 crore, was terminated for the same reason, with re-tendering to be undertaken after land possession is secured. Rs 1,800cr Punjab PWD projects also delayed Projects implemented by the Punjab public works department have also seen significant disruptions. The Jalandhar–Hoshiarpur NH-3 four-laning project (39.13 km, Rs 1,069.59 crore), awarded on Oct 23, 2017, is under termination due to land acquisition delays. Similarly, the Jakhal bypass on NH-148B (5 km, Rs 50.13 crore), awarded on Jan 9, 2020, is being terminated after only 0.6 km of land could be handed over to the contractor. Other ongoing but delayed projects include the Jalandhar–Hoshiarpur NH-3 widening (3.57 km, Rs 15.04 crore), which faces right-of-way constraints and now has a revised completion target of Nov 30, 2025. The Makhu–Arifke section of NH-703A, including two ROBs (24.6 km, Rs 192.48 crore), initially due by May 14, 2021, is now expected to be completed by Dec 31, 2025. The ROB project on NH-7 at Fazilka (Rs 38.02 crore), awarded on Feb 28, 2023, was delayed due to pending railway clearances but is now in progress and targeted for completion by Oct 31, 2025. The NH-354 upgrade from Arifke to Ferozepur–Muktsar–Malout, covering 63.27 km and costing Rs 263.2 crore, was affected by delays in obtaining no-objection Certificates from the irrigation department and land acquisition issues. It is now expected to be completed by Dec 31, 2025. The Muktsar Sahib–Malout section of NH-354 (27.66 km, Rs 152.58 crore) is ongoing, with all work except the toll plaza completed. Construction of the toll plaza has been delayed due to land issues, and the PWD has been advised to redesign it within the available right-of-way. Additionally, the Jalandhar–Kapurthala–Makhu stretch of NH-703A (7.3 km, Rs 53 crore), awarded in Dec 2023, has been delayed due to aggregate shortage and excessive rainfall, but is expected to be completed by Sept 15. The ministry said that "projects in the state of Punjab are mainly delayed/stalled/terminated due to the issues relating to land acquisition and delay in obtaining statutory clearances". It confirmed that the govt is taking requisite measures in consultation with all stakeholders, including the Punjab govt, to resolve these challenges and resume stalled works wherever feasible. 4 NHAI PROJECTS TERMINATED Project | Length (km) | Cost | Status Delhi–Amritsar–Katra Expressway Amritsar connectivity Spur II | 30.05km | Rs 2,197.2cr | Terminated due to non-availability of land; fresh bids after possession Amritsar connectivity Spur III | 28.1km | 1,951.7cr | Ongoing, but delayed to Nov 30, 2026 Amritsar–Bathinda Package I | 39km | 1,229.4cr | Delayed from Nov 13, 2024, to Dec 31, 2026 Amritsar–Ghoman–Tanda–Una Package I | 45.7km | 1,443.5cr | Delayed to Jun 30, 2026 Package II | 31.05km | 818.41cr | Terminated due to land unavailability Amritsar (Airport Jn)–Ramdas Package IV | 38.9km | 416.6cr | Delayed to Sept 30, 2025, due to land acquisition Ludhiana–Rupnagar Package I | 37.7km | 1,368.9cr | Termination notice issued; matter under conciliation with CCIE Package II | 47.2km | 1,488.2cr | Terminated; re-tendering after land possession
Time of India
08-08-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Land woes stall Rs 10k cr highway projects in Punjab
Representative Image CHANDIGARH: Over a dozen major National Highway projects worth about Rs 10,000 crore in Punjab have either stalled, been delayed, or face termination, primarily due to persistent land acquisition hurdles and delays in statutory clearances, the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has informed Parliament. In a written reply to an unstarred question by Congress MP Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa, Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari stated that several infrastructure projects being executed by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) and the Punjab Public Works Department (PWD) are experiencing significant setbacks. Among the affected NHAI-implemented projects are key packages of the Delhi–Amritsar–Katra Expressway. The Amritsar connectivity Spur-II, sanctioned at Rs 2,197.17 crore for a length of 30.05 km, was terminated due to the non-availability of land, with fresh bids to be invited once possession is secured. Spur-III, covering 28.07 km and sanctioned at Rs 1,951.70 crore, is ongoing but delayed, with a revised completion date of November 30, 2026. The Amritsar–Bathinda (Package-I) project, costing Rs 1,229.38 crore over 39 km, commenced on November 14, 2022, and was initially scheduled for completion by November 13, 2024. Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Uncover The Latest 2025 SUV Prices List In The Philippines SUV Deals | Search Ads Search Now Undo by Taboola by Taboola It is now expected to be completed by December 31, 2026, due to land acquisition issues. Likewise, Amritsar–Ghoman–Tanda–Una (Package-I), sanctioned at Rs 1,443.47 crore for 45.73 km, is delayed for similar reasons and is now targeted for completion by June 30, 2026. Package-II of the same corridor, measuring 31.05 km and valued at Rs 818.41 crore, was terminated due to land unavailability. Another delayed NHAI project is the Amritsar (Airport Junction)–Ramdas (Package-IV) stretch, sanctioned at Rs 416.58 crore for 38.978 km. The project began on March 16, 2022, with an initial completion deadline of September 15, 2023, but is now projected to finish by September 30, 2025, due to delays in acquiring land. In the Ludhiana–Rupnagar corridor, Package-I, covering 37.7 km at a cost of Rs 1,368.91 crore, commenced on December 12, 2022. The concessionaire issued a termination notice citing delays in land handover and has demobilised resources from the site. The matter is currently under conciliation through the Conciliation Committee of Independent Experts (CCIE). Meanwhile, Package-II, spanning 47.24 km and sanctioned at Rs 1,488.23 crore, was terminated for the same reason, with re-tendering to be undertaken after land possession is secured. Projects implemented by the Punjab Public Works Department have also seen significant disruptions. The Jalandhar–Hoshiarpur NH-3 four-laning project (39.13 km, Rs 1,069.59 crore), awarded on October 23, 2017, is under termination due to land acquisition delays. Similarly, the Jakhal Bypass on NH-148B (5 km, Rs 50.13 crore), awarded on January 9, 2020, is being terminated after only 0.6 km of land could be handed over to the contractor. Other ongoing but delayed projects include the Jalandhar–Hoshiarpur NH-3 widening (3.57 km, Rs 15.04 crore), which faces right-of-way constraints and now has a revised completion target of November 30, 2025. The Makhu–Arifke section of NH-703A, including two ROBs (24.6 km, Rs 192.48 crore), initially due by May 14, 2021, is now expected to be completed by December 31, 2025. The ROB project on NH-07 at Fazilka (Rs 38.02 crore), awarded on February 28, 2023, was delayed due to pending railway clearances but is now in progress and targeted for completion by October 31, 2025. The NH-354 upgrade from Arifke to Ferozepur–Muktsar–Malout, covering 63.27 km and costing Rs 263.19 crore, was affected by delays in obtaining No Objection Certificates from the Irrigation Department and land acquisition issues. It is now expected to be completed by December 31, 2025. The Muktsar Sahib–Malout section of NH-354 (27.66 km, Rs 152.58 crore) is ongoing, with all work except the Toll Plaza completed. Construction of the Toll Plaza has been delayed due to land issues, and the PWD has been advised to redesign it within the available right-of-way. Additionally, the Jalandhar–Kapurthala–Makhu stretch of NH-703A (7.3 km, Rs 53 crore), awarded in December 2023, has been delayed due to aggregate shortage and excessive rainfall but is expected to be completed by September 15, 2025. The Ministry stated that "projects in the state of Punjab are mainly delayed/stalled/terminated due to the issues relating to land acquisition and delay in obtaining statutory clearances." It further confirmed that the govt is taking requisite measures in consultation with all stakeholders, including the Punjab govt, to resolve these challenges and resume stalled works wherever feasible. Stay updated with the latest local news from your city on Times of India (TOI). Check upcoming bank holidays , public holidays , and current gold rates and silver prices in your area.
