The other projects facing delays include Beas-Dera Baba Nanak, Amritsar-Una, Amritsar Bypass, Abohar-Fazilka, Amritsar-Bathinda, Moga-Bajakhana, Ludhiana-Bathinda, Ludhiana-Ropar, and the Southern Ludhiana Bypass.Meanwhile, the construction of 22 highways, covering 740 kilometres, is progressing at full pace after acquiring the necessary land. Earlier, these projects had also faced delays due to difficulties in securing land possession.The NHAI has faced repeated hurdles in Punjab due to farmers’ protests and delays in land acquisition. Many projects had remained stalled for a long time before gaining momentum following Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari’s warning that these projects would be cancelled if the state government failed to hand over the required land.Following this, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, the then Chief Secretary Anurag Verma, and Director General of Police Gaurav Yadav intervened. They engaged with farmers through discussions and offered enhanced compensation for their land, successfully securing over 94 per cent of the acquired land for these projects.Sources added that several of these projects are divided into multiple packages, with work awarded to the same or different bidders.Earlier, three greenfield projects—Southern Ludhiana Bypass, Ludhiana-Rupnagar highway, and Ludhiana-Bathinda highway—were terminated. These were six-lane projects developed under the Hybrid Annuity Model. Subsequently, the NHAI decided to issue fresh tenders and re-award work for the terminated and stalled highway projects in Punjab.
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