Delhi-Amritsar-Katra expressway completion delayed to Sept 2025

670 km expressway project face land, natural challenges, only 60% work done in J&K section

JAMMU: The Delhi-Amritsar-Katra Expressway, an ambitious 670 km project valued at approximately Rs 39,000 crores, is now slated for completion by September 2025, a year beyond its initial September 2024 deadline.
This extension is attributed to land acquisition disputes, natural challenges, and a generally slow pace of construction. To date, only 60% of the work in the Jammu and Kashmir section has been completed.
Once finished, the expressway will drastically reduce travel time, the journey from New Delhi to Katra will take just six hours, and the trip to Amritsar will be completed in four hours.
This will greatly benefit devotees traveling to Maa Vaishno Devi Dham and tourists visiting Amritsar. The expressway spans over 150 km in Haryana and 261 km in Punjab. In Haryana, 135 km of the expressway has already been completed and opened to traffic.
However, construction in Punjab has been hindered by prolonged land acquisition disputes, delaying progress.
The construction of the Jammu to Kathua segment, divided into three sections, has seen significant advancement, with 60% of the work nearing completion. Efforts to accelerate the remaining 40% are ongoing, but the September 2025 target remains challenging due to various hurdles.
Land acquisition has posed a major problem, especially for farmers who have cultivated government land for decades but received no compensation. Many disputes have escalated to court, further slowing progress.
Natural obstacles have also contributed to delays. The region's terrain includes several drains requiring bridges, complicating construction efforts. Traffic management in densely populated areas has added to the challenges, compounded by a lack of coordination between construction companies and local administration. Simultaneously, the ongoing widening of the Pathankot-Jammu highway has further strained resources and logistics.
The foundation stone for the expressway was laid in 2022, with an initial goal of completing the project by September 2024. However, the various challenges encountered have necessitated extending the deadline to September 2025.
Despite the setbacks, the project holds immense promise. It is expected to revolutionize connectivity in North India, offering a faster, more efficient route for pilgrims, tourists, and commuters alike.

Updated On 11/28/2024 4:49:50 AM