NHAI accelerates two road projects in Ludhiana, Southern Bypass yet to get green light.

Ludhiana: In a significant boost to regional connectivity, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has recently resumed work on a critical segment of Ludhiana's outer ring road. The project, which had been languishing for over three years due to land acquisition hurdles, is now back on track, promising to overhaul the district's traffic infrastructure by late 2026.Work has officially restarted on Package 1 of the Ludhiana-Rupnagar Green Field Highway. This 37.7-km stretch, connecting Ghumnewal to Bonkar near Cycle Valley, is being developed at an estimated cost of Rs 951 crore. Although the contract was awarded in December 2021, progress was halted after only 16% completion because the NHAI lacked full possession of the required land.
An NHAI official confirmed that construction resumed in the second week of February 2025. A key catalyst for this restart was a recent approval from the state government, granted roughly a fortnight ago, allowing for desilting from the Sutlej to provide necessary materials for construction. The project is now eyeing a December 2026 completion date.Progress on Bathinda, Halwara stretchesSimultaneously, work is progressing on Package 2 of the Ludhiana-Bathinda project. This 45.2-km stretch begins at Ballowal and eventually joins the Amritsar-Bathinda-Jamnagar corridor. Currently, approximately 15% to 20% of this package is complete, with work concentrated near Raikot. While construction is currently happening in patches, officials expect this segment to be finished by September 2026.Additionally, a second vital project passing near the Halwara Airport is already underway and is slated for completion next year, further enhancing the district's logistical map.Despite these gains, the 25.2-km Southern Ludhiana Bypass remains in limbo. Starting from Rajgarh village in Doraha and extending to Ballowal near Raikot, this bypass is a crucial link in the outer ring road.Contractual obligations require the NHAI to have 80% land possession before work can commence; however, only 60% has been secured thus far. Sources indicate that compensation disbursements to several farmers are still pending. Once the 80% threshold is met and work begins, the project will carry a two-year construction timeline.Local residents are calling for these projects to be fast-tracked to alleviate chronic congestion. Kuldeep Singh, a local resident, emphasised that these highways are essential for reducing travel time, lowering fuel costs, and curbing air pollution. "Such projects must be completed on time to benefit the public, while ensuring land owners receive fair and decent compensation," Singh added.