The construction of the 46.5-km-long Jalandhar six-lane Ring Road project has reached 43% completion, with the remaining work targeted for completion by June 2027. The greenfield bypass is being developed to divert heavy vehicles away from the city and reduce traffic congestion at major intersections, including PAP Chowk and Rama Mandi.
According to the National Highways Authority of India’s (NHAI) Data Lake portal, the project has faced several delays since construction began. The authorities have revised the completion deadline multiple times due to land acquisition issues, the COVID-19 pandemic, shortages of soil and delays in shifting electricity infrastructure.
An additional budget of more than ₹797 crore has also been approved to meet the increased project cost, according to the project details provided.
The project, approved in 2021-22, was initially scheduled for completion in 2024-25. However, delays in acquiring land, distributing compensation and obtaining technical approvals affected the construction timeline.
The COVID-19 pandemic further disrupted the initial stages of the project. A shortage of soil required for construction and delays in relocating electricity poles and power lines also slowed progress.
The project cost has increased amid rising construction material prices and revisions to land compensation rates. The initial project cost was ₹1,754.84 crore, while the revised cost has been reported at ₹2,167.39 crore.
The completion deadline was earlier extended to December 2025 and has now been pushed to June 2027. With 43% of the work completed, the remaining 57% must be finished within the revised timeline.
The greenfield bypass will connect Sarai Khas to Kang Sahbu, passing through areas including Sarmastpur, Madara and Khajurla.
Once operational, the road is expected to provide an alternative route for vehicles travelling through or around Jalandhar, particularly heavy commercial vehicles that do not need to enter the city.
The project is intended to ease traffic pressure at PAP Chowk, Rama Mandi, Workshop Chowk and Maqsudan Chowk. These locations handle significant traffic movement, including vehicles entering or leaving the city.
By diverting transit traffic to the bypass, the project aims to reduce the number of heavy vehicles using internal city roads. This could also help reduce travel delays for commuters and improve traffic movement at busy junctions.
The movement of heavy vehicles through densely populated parts of Jalandhar contributes to traffic congestion and exposes residents to vehicle emissions and noise.
The Ring Road is expected to reduce this pressure by providing trucks and other transit vehicles with an alternative route. Lower traffic volumes on internal roads could help reduce noise and air pollution and improve road safety.
However, the extent of these benefits will depend on the road becoming operational and on how effectively heavy vehicles are diverted to the new route.
Jalandhar has established sports goods, surgical instruments, leather and hand-tool industries that depend on the movement of raw materials and finished products.
The bypass is expected to improve goods transportation by reducing the need for heavy trucks to pass through congested city roads. It could also reduce delays caused by restrictions on the entry of commercial vehicles during specified hours.
The development may encourage logistics facilities, warehouses and other commercial activities along the corridor. Such growth could create employment opportunities in areas around the bypass, although the scale of future development remains uncertain.
The immediate challenge is completing the remaining 57% of the project within the revised deadline of June 2027.
The project’s progress will depend on the pace of construction and the resolution of any remaining land, infrastructure or material-related issues. Once completed, the six-lane greenfield bypass is expected to provide a dedicated route for transit traffic and reduce pressure on several of Jalandhar’s major road junctions.