The project to upgrade 470-km National Highway I (NH-I) from Delhi to Amritsar to six lanes, which has already missed its May deadline, will take at least six months more.
The National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) member Satish Chandra said that the project has been derailed primarily because incomplete work on two stretches — the patch between Jalandhar Cantt and Phagwara and a 20-km stretch between Jalandhar and Dhilwan — and the company undertaking the project has sought till November 30 to complete the project.
The stretches are not expected to be completed until next year, however, while work on the patch between Jalandhar Cantt and Phagwara, it is expected to be finished only in May next year, the contractor wants to use new technology for the patch between Jalandhar and Dhilwan, which will be completed by March 2016.
Speaking about the national highways network in Punjab, Chandra said that Chandigarh–Kharar and Kharar–ludhiana would be upgraded to six lanes within two-and-a-half years.
A plan to upgrade the road highway between Ropar-Phagwara is currently being drawn up and the project will be commissioned by the end of November.
Meanwhile, NHAI is repairing the road at an estimated cost of Rs 17 crore.
Seven major flyovers will be constructed on the Amritsar by-pass.
Chandra said that work on Dera Bassi flyover, estimated to cost of Rs 19 crore, will be completed by October 2016 while most of the other National Highways in Punjab will be ready by 2016.