Land Acquisition Delays In Ludhiana Threaten Delhi-Katra Expressway's Progress, NHAI Raises Concerns

The much-anticipated Delhi-Katra Expressway project faces significant setbacks in Ludhiana, where land acquisition delays and ongoing farming on acquired plots now threaten to derail the project’s September target.

The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) recently sounded the alarm, warning the local administration that, unless bottlenecks are urgently resolved, it is unlikely the expressway will reach Ludhiana on schedule, as per a report by TOI.

An NHAI official noted that despite the expressway being intended to boost regional connectivity, progress in parts of Ludhiana remains “negligible”.

Under Package Eight, which covers 22 km within Ludhiana district, progress has stagnated at 31.08 per cent for months, while financial progress stands at just 28.06 per cent. This stretch, from Chappar village to Mullanpur, now has a revised completion deadline of 30 June 2026.

Package Nine, extending 43.04 km through Ludhiana and Jalandhar, fares slightly better with 57.90 per cent physical progress and 53.30 per cent financial progress. Its completion date has been advanced to 31 December 2025.

Accessed by TOI, a letter from the NHAI project director to the Ludhiana West subdivisional magistrate highlighted ongoing land acquisition issues.

"These challenges are affecting the progress of the project significantly, in securing land for Packages Eight and Nine particularly," the letter stated, adding, "despite repeated reminders that the Delhi-Amritsar-Katra Expressway is a flagship project monitored by the Prime Minister's Office, obstructions at various sites are preventing continuous work."

Deputy Commissioner Himanshu Jain assured that the district administration was providing all possible support to NHAI.

Most land acquisition compensation has been paid, but disputes and continued farming on acquired plots hinder work. As a result, construction proceeds in patches, raising costs and reducing efficiency.

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