The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, has approved the development of four laning of Phagwara-Rupnagar Section of NH-344A in Punjab. The cost is estimated to be Rs.1444.42 crore including cost of land acquisition, resettlement and rehabilitation and other pre-construction activities. The total length of the road to be developed is approximately 80.820 kms. This work will be done under the National Highways (Others) on Hybrid Annuity Mode. The project will help in expediting the improvement of infrastructure in Punjab and in reducing the time and cost of travel for traffic, particularly heavy traffic, plying between Phagwara-Rupnagar section. The development of this stretch will also help in uplifting the socio-economic condition of this region in the State. It would also increase employment potential for local labourers for project activities. It has been estimated that a total number of 4,076 mandays are required for construction of one kilometre of highway. As such, employment potential of 3,30,000 (approx.) mandays will be generated locally during the construction period of this stretch.
Background:
The Phagwara-Rupnagar section is recently declared as NH-344A. Presently, the proposed project highway is 2-lane with paved shoulder (68.820 km) and four lane (15.8 km). The proposal is for four laning of road section which will serve as high speed link between NH-1 and NH-21. The project starts from Phagwara town and passes through Banga Town, proposed Nawashahir bypass and will be terminated near Rupnagar. This road will join Phagwara to Rupnagar via Nawashahir and will be the shortest route for movement to Amritsar from Chandigarh side and vice-versa.