The highly anticipated Delhi-Amritsar-Katra Greenfield Expressway is set to transform connectivity between Delhi, Punjab, and Jammu & Kashmir. According to Minister of Road Transport and Highways Nitin Jairam Gadkari, the entire 144-kilometer stretch in Jammu and Kashmir will be completed by the end of March 2026. Additionally, three packages are expected to be ready by September 2025. The information was shared in the Lok Sabha in response to queries regarding the expressway’s completion timeline.
Expressway Project Breakdown and Construction Phases
The expressway is divided into 18 packages, categorized as follows:
- Haryana: 5 packages
- Punjab: 8 packages
- Jammu & Kashmir: 5 packages
- Spur Routes (Punjab): 3 routes
Each package is at different stages of construction, with some nearing completion while others are still under development.
Status of Expressway Packages in Jammu & Kashmir
The Jammu & Kashmir segment consists of five packages, totaling 144 kilometers. These packages will be completed in different phases:
- First Package (44.6 km) & Second Package (35.15 km):
- Awarded in December 2021
- Construction started in September 2022
- First package completion: July 2025
- Second package completion: September 2025
- Third Package (20.38 km):
- Awarded in October 2021
- Construction began in September 2022
- Completion expected by September 2025
- Fourth Package (28.92 km):
- Awarded in August 2022
- Construction started in June 2023
- Completion expected by February 2026
- Fifth Package (15.3 km):
- Awarded in March 2023
- Construction commenced in November 2023
- Completion expected by March 2026
Progress in Haryana and Punjab
Significant progress has been made in Haryana, where four out of five packages are provisionally completed. The final package is under construction. Similarly, in Punjab, one package is complete, while seven remain under construction. Two spur roads are also under construction in Punjab, but land acquisition issues have led to the termination of an EPC (Engineering, Procurement, and Construction) contract for another spur road, delaying its progress.
Read also: Banihal Bypass: Key Facts and Insights
Toll Fee and Exemption Policies
Addressing concerns about toll exemptions, Minister Nitin Gadkari clarified that toll collection will follow the National Highways Fee (Determination of Rates and Collection) Rules, 2008. There is currently no provision for toll exemptions for districts through which the expressway passes. Additionally, there is no proposal under consideration for offering toll relief for electric vehicles (EVs) using the expressway.
Foundation Stone and Expected Benefits
On February 20, 2024, Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone for two packages (44.22 km) of the expressway. He highlighted that once completed, the Delhi-Amritsar-Katra Expressway will significantly enhance pilgrimage accessibility to Shri Mata Vaishno Devi and drive economic development in the region.
The Delhi-Amritsar-Katra Greenfield Expressway is a transformative infrastructure project set to improve travel efficiency and boost regional economies. With phased completion timelines, the expressway is progressing steadily, promising a modern, high-speed road network connecting key cities in North India.
