Punjab is all set to witness rehabilitation and upgrading of 382-kilometer-long four stretches of the State highways under the umbrella of national highways.
For, the Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari, has given in principle approval to develop and maintain these roads under National Highways Development Project.
“This conversion of 382 kms State highways to national highways will further bring massive transformation in the State’s road connectivity network. The Central Government would upgrade and maintain all bridges, culverts, causeways, carriageways and other structures across such highways,” an official spokesperson said.
Punjab already has 2,136 kms stretches of NHs and 6990 kms of state highways besides extensive network of 55,000 kms of link roads.“Punjab has highest road densities amongst Indian States at 133 km per 100 square km with total 64,500 kms road network in the State.
The major State roads rechristened as national highways include 150 kms long stretch from Mudki to Talwandi Sabo via Bagha Purana, Rampura and Maur and 157 kms long stretch from Amritsar to Una via Batala, Sri Hargobindpur, Tanda, Hoshiarpur.
Besides, 40 kms long stretch Kharar-Banur-Tepla road and 35 kms long Phagwara-Hoshiarpur road would also be developed by National Highways Authority of India (NHAI). Spokesperson said that Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal was monitoring all road projects on monthly basis as he envisioned Punjab to have one of the best road connectivity State in the country having four-six lane road network in next two years. He said work on these projects were on full swing as the State had fixed deadline to complete the projects in coming two years.