A key stretch of the Delhi-Amritsar-Katra Expressway is expected to open by December 2026, potentially reducing travel time for commuters travelling between Pathankot and Dayalachak from up to 70 minutes to around 25-30 minutes.
Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh shared the update on social media, stating that the nearly 40-km stretch would bypass the Lakhanpur toll plaza and the development is expected to provide relief to commuters and pilgrims travelling towards Jammu and Kashmir, particularly during periods of heavy traffic on the existing highway.
In his post, Singh described the development as a boost to regional connectivity and said it would improve the ease of travel.
At present, commuters travelling between Pathankot and Dayalachak can take around 50-70 minutes, depending on traffic conditions and once the new stretch opens, the journey is expected to take approximately 25-30 minutes.
The bypass around the Lakhanpur toll plaza is also expected to help commuters avoid delays associated with traffic congestion in the area.
The development is particularly relevant for people travelling from Punjab and other parts of the country towards Jammu, Katra and other destinations in Jammu and Kashmir as the traffic congestion on the existing National Highway, partly due to ongoing expressway construction, has contributed to delays for road users.
However, the December opening is an expected timeline, however an official inauguration date has not been announced in the information shared by the minister.
The Delhi-Amritsar-Katra Expressway is being developed in multiple packages under the Centre's Bharatmala Pariyojana, and the project is intended to improve road connectivity between Delhi, Punjab, Jammu and Kashmir, and the pilgrimage destination of Katra.
As per the details provided regarding the project, the work on Package 14, which pertains to the Pathankot-Dayalachak section, started in September 2022. This section, with a length of 44.6km, is expected to cost Rs 3,044 crore and has recorded 92% physical progress.
Work is also on other sections of the expressway with completion expected until 2027 while Package 15 entails the construction of the 35.15km stretch between Gurha Baildaran and Jakh and has recorded 91% physical progress. It will cost Rs 2,715 crore and will be completed by April 2027 and will connect to the Jammu Ring Road.
Package 16 will cover the stretch from Jakh to Kunjwani with 96% completion while the 20.39km stretch will cost Rs 1,917 crore and be completed by March 2027. Package 17 will entail the construction of the stretch between Kunjwani-Sidhra and Domel-Katra sections, which will be a combined length of 26.8km. The project costing Rs 2,895 crore will be completed by November 2027.
Package 18 will entail the construction of the stretch from Sidhra, on the outskirts of Jammu, to Ban village. This 15.3km stretch will be constructed at the cost of Rs 975 crore and has 72% physical progress and construction.
The opening of the Pathankot-Dayalachak stretch is expected to reduce travel time on this section and provide an alternative route for people travelling towards Jammu and Kashmir and once the remaining sections are completed, the expressway is expected to improve access to Jammu and Katra, where the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi shrine is located, better connectivity could also support tourism, trade and economic activity in the region, but for now, commuters will have to wait for the official opening announcement before planning their journeys around the new route.
