Earlier this year, the NHAI has sanctioned a 6-lane access-controlled highway known as the Ludhiana–Bathinda Expressway (NH-754AD), covering a distance of 75.4 km. This approved expressway features a route alignment that links Ballowal village on the Delhi–Amritsar Expressway with Rampura Phul on the Amritsar–Bhatinda Expressway.
The Ludhiana-Bhatinda Expressway is an approved greenfield project covering a length of 75.543 km, with an estimated cost of ₹1,716.17 crore (US$210 million). This standalone project, commencing from the Delhi-Amritsar-Katra Expressway at the village of “Ballowal,” situated 10 km southwest of Ludhiana, terminates at Rampura Phul near Bhatinda on the “Amritsar–Bhatinda Expressway” segment of the larger “Amritsar–Jamnagar Expressway.” The process of land acquisition for this project began in October 2020, and it is projected to be completed by March 2024.
The Ludhiana-Bhatinda Expressway’s origin point is at Ballowal on the Delhi-Amritsar-Katra Expressway, with Ludhiana being its starting point. It concludes at Rampura Phul on NH-7, positioned between Bhatinda and Barnala, marking the termination point of the expressway.
Finally Good news for the commuters
The commencement of construction on the long-anticipated Ludhiana-Bathinda highway has been officially initiated, as confirmed by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI). Despite the fact that the physical acquisition of 26.5 percent of the total land required for Package-1 of the extensive 30.3-km Greenfield project is still pending, the construction activities for this segment, valued at Rs 906.51 crore, have already achieved an 8 percent completion milestone. Meanwhile, the acquisition proceedings for almost the entire land, totaling 323.52 hectares, earmarked for Package-2 of the 45.243-km highway project—budgeted at Rs 1,555.13 crore—are yet to be concluded.
This development assumes paramount significance, marking a critical milestone in a project that was awarded nearly two years ago. Despite the passage of time since the contract for this major infrastructure development was granted, the full extent of land required for the highway’s construction has not been entirely made available, adding a layer of complexity to the execution timeline.
The ongoing construction progress, despite land possession challenges, underscores the resilience and commitment of the stakeholders involved. The fact that 8 percent of the Package-1 construction has been completed is indicative of a proactive approach to overcome hurdles and push forward with the development. Nevertheless, the unresolved land acquisition issues for Package-2 highlight the complexities associated with large-scale infrastructure projects, requiring a concerted effort to navigate legal and procedural intricacies.
As the Ludhiana-Bathinda highway project unfolds, it stands as a testament to the perseverance required in the face of logistical challenges, emphasizing the critical need for streamlined land acquisition processes to ensure the timely execution of vital infrastructure projects for the benefit of the community and the region at large.