Ludhiana: After a prolonged delay of more than three years, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has revived construction on a key stretch of Ludhiana’s proposed outer ring road, a move expected to significantly ease traffic congestion and strengthen regional connectivity by 2026.

Work resumes on Ludhiana–Rupnagar Greenfield Highway

Construction has restarted on Package 1 of the Ludhiana–Rupnagar Greenfield Highway, covering a 37.7-km section between Ghumnewal and Bonkar near Cycle Valley. The project, estimated at Rs 951 crore, was originally awarded in December 2021 but stalled after achieving only 16% progress due to incomplete land acquisition.

According to NHAI officials, work recommenced in the second week of February 2025. The breakthrough came after the Punjab government recently granted permission for desilting operations from the Sutlej river, enabling the contractor to source essential construction material. The highway segment is now targeted for completion by December 2026.

Progress on Ludhiana–Bathinda stretch

Parallel construction activity is underway on Package 2 of the Ludhiana–Bathinda corridor. The 45.2-km stretch, beginning at Ballowal and linking to the Amritsar–Bathinda–Jamnagar economic corridor, has achieved approximately 15–20% progress so far.

Current work is concentrated around the Raikot area, with construction progressing in phases. Officials anticipate the completion of this section by September 2026.

Halwara airport link advancing

Another crucial infrastructure project passing near Halwara Airport is also in progress and is expected to be completed next year. The road connectivity is projected to improve logistics and accessibility in and around the airport zone, further strengthening Ludhiana’s transport network.

Southern Ludhiana Bypass faces land hurdles

However, the 25.2-km Southern Ludhiana Bypass continues to face delays. The bypass, which runs from Rajgarh village in Doraha to Ballowal near Raikot, forms an essential component of the outer ring road network.

As per contractual norms, NHAI must secure at least 80% land possession before initiating construction. At present, only around 60% of the required land has been acquired. Sources indicate that compensation payments to several affected farmers are still pending. Once the mandatory land threshold is achieved, the bypass will require an estimated two-year construction period.

With multiple highway projects now moving forward, residents have urged authorities to expedite execution to tackle persistent traffic bottlenecks and ensure timely delivery of critical infrastructure. DeshBharat