**Policy Summary: National Highways in Punjab (Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 898)**
On July 24, 2025, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways addressed Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 898 regarding National Highways (NHs) in Punjab. The response details the NHs passing through the Gurdaspur and Pathankot districts and outlines the process for considering proposals for new highway construction or expansion.
**Key Findings:**
* **National Highway Presence:** Six NHs (NE5, NH54, NH354, NH354B, NH503A, NH503D) pass through the Gurdaspur district. Five NHs (NE5, NH44, NH54, NH154, NH154A) pass through the Pathankot district.
* **Proposal Consideration:** The Ministry receives proposals from State Governments and Union Territories, including Punjab, for declaring or upgrading state roads as new NHs. Decisions are based on connectivity needs, inter-se priority, traffic levels, and synergy with the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan (NMP).
* **Project Sanctions (FY 2025-26):** Several projects were sanctioned in FY 2025-26 to improve NH connectivity in Punjab. These include:
* Widening and upgradation of NH07 (Sulemanki Border-Fazilka section, Km 17.600 to 21.350) to a four-lane configuration at a cost of Rs. 3.75 crore, with a length of 29.97 Km. (Sanctioned on June 4, 2025)
* Strengthening stretches of NH148B (Km 234.900 to Km 244.750 and Km 287.710 to Km 349.640) and NH 703 (Km 182.750 to Km 189.240) at a cost of Rs. 65.45 crore, with a length of 87.08 Km. (Sanctioned on May 27, 2025)
* Construction of a 6-lane Zirakpur Bypass, starting from the Haryana junction with NH7 (Zirakpur-Patiala Design Ch. 0000) and ending at the junction with NH5 (Zirakpur-Parwanoo Design Ch. 16800), with a total length of 19.20 Km (Rs 1878.31 crore, 19.20 Km) under the Hybrid Annuity Mode, sanctioned on April 17, 2025.
The development and maintenance of NHs is an ongoing process, with new projects being undertaken based on techno-economic feasibility, traffic intensity, inter-se priority, and alignment with the PM Gati Shakti NMP.
Key Entities Referenced
Punjab: A state in India through which several National Highways pass.
National Highways: A network of highways throughout India managed by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways.
Ministry of Road Transport and Highways: The government ministry responsible for the development and maintenance of roads and highways in India.
SHRI SUKHJINDER SINGH RANDHAWA: Member of Parliament who asked the question about National Highways in Punjab.
SHRI NITIN JAIRAM GADKARI: The Minister of Road Transport and Highways who answered the question.
PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan NMP: A national master plan for multi-modal connectivity to various economic zones.
Haryana: A state in India sharing border with Punjab and part of Zirakpur Bypass Project
Gurdaspur district: A district in Punjab through which several National Highways pass.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 898
ANSWERED ON 24TH JULY, 2025
NHs IN PUNJAB
898. SHRI SUKHJINDER SINGH RANDHAWA:
Will the Minister of ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS
सड़क परिवहन औि िाजमार्ग मंत्री
be pleased to state:
(a) the National Highways (NHs) passing through Gurdaspur and
Pathankot districts of Punjab, district-wise; and
(b) whether any proposals have been received from State
Government of Punjab for construction or expansion of new
highways, if so, the details thereof?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS
(SHRI NITIN JAIRAM GADKARI)
(a) Six number National Highways (NHs) namely NE-5, NH-54, NH-354,
NH-354B, NH-503A & NH-503D pass through Gurudaspur district and
five number National Highways namely NE-5, NH-44, NH-54, NH-154
& NH-154A pass through Pathankot district in the State of Punjab.
(b) The Government in the Ministry of Road, Transport and Highways
receives proposals from various State Government / Union
Territories (UTs), including from the State Government of Punjab,
from time to time, for declaration / upgradation of State roads,
including State Highways (SHs), as new NHs. Decisions are taken to
notify State Roads as NHs from time to time based on requirement
of connectivity, inter-se priority, traffic level and synergy with PM
Gati Shakti National Master Plan (NMP).Development and maintenance of NHs is a continuous process and
new projects are taken up depending upon techno-economic
feasibility of proposals, traffic intensity, inter-se priority and synergy
with PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan (NMP). Details of projects
sanctioned during FY 2025-26 for improving the connectivity of NHs
in the State of Punjab is annexed.ANNEXURE
ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (b) OF LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 898 FOR ANSWER ON 04.07.2025 ASKED BY
SHRI SUKHJINDER SINGH RANDHAWA REGARDING NHs IN PUNJAB
Details of Projects sanctioned during 2025-26:
Sl. Name of Project Total Date of Length State
No. Project sanction
Cost
(TPC) Rs
in crore
1 Widening and 29.97 04.06.2025 3.75 Punjab
upgradation from two
lanes with paved
shoulder to four lane in
Km 17.600 to 21.350 of
NH-07 Section
Sulemanki Border -
Fazilka on EPC Mode
2 Strengthening of 87.08 27.05.2025 65.45 Punjab
stretches of NH-148B
from (Km 234.900 to Km
244.750 and Km 287.710
to Km 349.640) and NH-
703 (Km 182.750 to Km
189.240) in the State of
Punjab
3 Construction of 6 lane 1878.31 17.04.2025 19.20 Punjab
Zirakpur Bypass &
(Starting from Junction Haryana
with NH-7 (Zirakpur-
Patiala) (Design Ch.
0+000) and ending at
Junction with NH-5
(Zirakpur-Parwanoo)
(Design Ch. 16+800)
(Total Length 19.200
Km) in State of Punjab
and Haryana under
NH(O) on Hybrid Annuity
Mode
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