The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has sought the Punjab Government’s assistance in resolving land acquisition issues that have delayed 15 critical highway projects spanning 604 kilometers in the state. These projects are part of a larger initiative comprising 37 highway projects, covering a total length of 1,344 kilometers and involving an investment of over Rs 50,000 crore. 

A major bottleneck is the flagship ‘Delhi-Amritsar-Katra (DAK) Expressway’, where work on three segments has stalled due to farmer protests. This expressway, a multi-state project extending 669 kilometers from Haryana’s Jhajjar district to Jammu and Kashmir’s Katra, includes a 295.51-kilometer stretch passing through Punjab. Despite acquiring significant portions of the required land, protests and disputes have hindered progress on smaller parcels of the expressway. 

In a recent letter to Punjab Chief Secretary KAP Sinha, the NHAI has urged the state to direct administrative and police authorities to provide the necessary support for securing possession of the remaining 103 kilometers of land. “Administrative and police assistance is crucial to ensure the execution of work on 15 stalled highway projects and the DAK Expressway,” the letter read.

Projects Impacted by Land Acquisition Issues

The delays are not confined to the DAK Expressway. Other affected projects include the ‘Beas-Dera Baba Nanak Road’, ‘Amritsar-Una Highway’, ‘Amritsar Bypass”, ‘Abohar-Fazilka Road’, and multiple bypasses and highways such as the ‘Moga-Bajakhana’, ‘Ludhiana-Bathinda’, and ‘Ludhiana-Rupnagar’ highways.  While challenges persist, progress is evident in the construction of 22 highways covering 740 kilometers, which are now moving forward at full pace after overcoming initial land acquisition hurdles. Earlier, several projects had remained dormant due to resistance from farmers and delays in securing possession of land. 

The NHAI faced significant challenges in Punjab, primarily due to protests and disputes over compensation. In the past, Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari had issued a stern warning, threatening to withdraw stalled projects if the State Government failed to ensure the handover of acquired land. This spurred action from Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, the then Chief Secretary Anurag Verma, and DGP Gaurav Yadav. Their concerted efforts, including negotiations with protesting farmers and enhanced compensation offers, resulted in over 94 percent of the acquired land being handed over. 

However, the remaining parcels have proven more contentious. Farmer resistance continues to be a significant obstacle, with many citing inadequate compensation and concerns over the impact on their livelihoods. 

The NHAI has also restructured its approach to certain terminated projects. For instance, three major greenfield projects — the ‘Southern Ludhiana Bypass’, ‘Ludhiana-Rupnagar Highway’, and ‘Ludhiana-Bathinda Highway’ — were initially halted under the Hybrid Annuity Model but are now set for re-tendering. 

NHAI officials remain optimistic about completing the stalled projects with the state’s cooperation. The agency has emphasized that completing these projects is crucial not just for improving connectivity within Punjab but also for boosting the region’s economic growth by linking it more effectively to neighboring states and key national corridors. 

As discussions between NHAI and the Punjab Government continue, the resolution of land acquisition issues remained critical to unlocking the full potential of these transformative infrastructure projects.

Key Highway Projects Facing Hurdles in Punjab

·         Delhi-Amritsar-Katra Expressway

·         Beas-Dera Baba Nanak Highway

·         Amritsar-Una Highway

·         Amritsar Bypass

·         Abohar-Fazilka Highway

·         Amritsar-Bathinda Highway

·         Moga-Bajakhana Highway

·         Ludhiana-Bathinda Highway

·         Ludhiana-Rupnagar Highway

·         Southern Ludhiana Bypass