Amritsar Bhatinda National Highway Project to Start Rolling

The Public Works Department of Punjab has set the Amritsar-Bathinda National Highway widening project rolling with submission of paperwork to acquire land along with 175 km stretch of the highway that touches Verka, Kotkapura, Jida, Jalandhar,Moga and Khanur. Simultaneously, Central government clearances are also in process. The project cost is Rs. 1900 crores and involves widening of the road, which involves acquisition of adjoining land. It will also boost the real estate prices in the area. 

Bypasses will come up at Nehurashara Pannua, Talwandi, Kotkapura and Zira Harik. Along with bypasses, the project also envisages flyovers and railway overbridges that will in effect convert the highway into an expressway and do away with traffic bottlenecks. With tenders to be issued  by September, the first stretch of Jalandhar-Moga-Khanura should be completed by the end of 2013.

Against the usual practice of allocating the work to the National Highway Authority of India, the Punjab PWD has been given the task of widening this highway. To help contractors the department will assist with raw material and inputs by way of short term mining permits.