Gadkari Inaugurates Highway Projects Worth Rs 4,000 Crore in Punjab

Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari inaugurated and laid foundation stones for 29 national highway projects worth Rs 4,000 crore in Punjab on Wednesday. The projects are aimed at improving connectivity and infrastructure in the state.

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Projects Inaugurated and Foundation Stones Laid

The projects inaugurated by Gadkari included the Ladhowal bypass, a six-lane flyover and two-lane Road Over Bridge (ROB) in Ludhiana, and the four-lane Jalandhar-Kapurthala section. He also laid the foundation stones for several other projects, including the four-lane Hoshiarpur-Phagwara and Ferozepur Bypass, construction of nine road projects in Amritsar, Kapurthala, and Ludhiana, and construction of ROBs in Kartarpur, Gehari Mandi village Amritsar, Kanganiwal village Jalandhar, and Tarn-Taran Bypass under the Setu Bandhan Yojana.

Absence of State Leaders Draws Criticism

The absence of Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and several other state ministers at the event drew criticism from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Punjab BJP chief Sunil Jakhar accused the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leadership of deliberately choosing to skip the event and termed it as a manifestation of the hollowness and crassness of the AAP government's intentions and promises of development.

Gadkari Announces Additional Projects

During the event, Gadkari also announced additional projects worth Rs 12,000 crore for the development of road infrastructure in Punjab. He highlighted the importance of these projects in improving connectivity and reducing travel time. Some of the key projects announced include a four-lane highway from the Amritsar airport to Ramdas, scheduled for completion in 2024, and a 75-km green-field highway from Ludhiana to Bathinda, targeted for completion by 2025.

Appeal for Expediting Land Acquisition

Gadkari appealed to the Punjab government to expedite the land acquisition process for the Jalandhar-Hoshiarpur national highway project. He also acknowledged the demand for constructing bypasses at Bhogpur, Dasuya, and Mukerian, as raised by Union Minister of State Som Parkash.

The inauguration and foundation stone laying ceremony for the highway projects in Punjab mark a significant step towards improving the state's infrastructure and connectivity. These projects are expected to enhance transportation, reduce travel time, and boost economic development in the region.