Parliament Question: Development of National Highways in Amritsar

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1995 ANSWERED ON 30TH JULY, 2026 DEVELOPMENT OF NATIONAL HIGHWAYS IN AMRITSAR 1995. SHRI GURJEET SINGH AUJLA: Will the Minister of ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS सड़क परिवहन औि िाजमार्ग मंत्री be pleased to state: (a) whether the Government is aware that the Amritsar border belt despite being one of India's important international tourism and border regions, continues to lag behind in highway infrastructure and development compared to several other States and if so, the details thereof; (b) whether the Government is aware that Amritsar receives a large number of tourists, pilgrims and business travellers every day but lacks world-class road connectivity and modern highway infrastructure commensurate with its national importance and if so, the details thereof; (c) whether several ongoing National Highway projects in the Amritsar region are progressing at a slow pace, resulting in delays in their completion and if so, the details thereof; (d) the reasons for such delays in execution of National Highway projects in the region; and (e) whether the Government proposes to accord priority to the expeditious completion of pending projects and development of state-of-the-art highway infrastructure in the Amritsar border belt and if so, the details thereof? ANSWER THE MINISTER OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS (SHRI NITIN JAIRAM GADKARI)(a) and (b) The Government in Ministry of Road Transport & Highways is responsible for the development and maintenance of National Highways in the country. Amritsar is well-connected through an extensive National Highway network providing connectivity to major cities, neighbouring States and the international border such as Jalandhar/Chandigarh/Delhi connectivity through the Jalandhar-Amritsar Highway (NH-3); Bathinda/Rajasthan connectivity through the Amritsar-Tarn Taran-Harike Highway (NH-54); Jammu & Kashmir connectivity through the Amritsar-Pathankot Highway (NH-54); and Himachal Pradesh connectivity through the Amritsar-Una Highway (NH-503A). The International Border is connected through the National Highway network linking Amritsar with Attari-Wagah (NH-3), providing direct access to this important border and tourist destination. Keeping in view Amritsar's national importance in terms of heritage, culture and socio-religious significance, the Government has taken up several measures to enhance the travel experience and improve convenience for tourists travelling to Amritsar by road. The important National Highway development projects taken up in and around Amritsar include the Delhi- Amritsar-Katra Expressway and its spur to Amritsar, Amritsar Bypass (to facilitate movement of visitors to the Attari-Wagah Border), Amritsar-Ramdas corridor (to facilitate tourists visiting Kartarpur Sahib), Amritsar-Una Corridor (connecting Amritsar to Anandpur Sahib) and Beas-Batala-Dera Baba Nanak corridor (connecting Beas to the Kartarpur Sahib Corridor). (c), (d) and (e) Some of the ongoing National Highway projects in the Amritsar region have faced delays, mainly on account of delay in acquistion of land, law and order issues, farmer's protests/agitations, demands for additional or elevated structures, non-reimbursement of pond ash transportation cost by State Thermal Power Plants, delay in statutory clearances/permissions and force majeure events such as heavy rainfall and floods. All requisite actions are being taken up in consultation with State Government, District Administration and other stakeholders to resolve these issues. The Government accords high priority to these projects and the progress of these projects in the Amritsar region is being regularly reviewed and monitored at various levels in consultation with all the stakeholders, including through the Project Monitoring Group (PMG) Portal/PRAGATI portal. The Government is taking all necessary steps to expedite completion of these projects. *****