Ahead of Punjab polls, PM Modi to unveil Rs 5,278 crore infra projects
With the Bharatiya Janta Party preparing to contest the upcoming Punjab Assembly elections independently, Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the state on July 17
With the Bharatiya Janta Party preparing to contest the upcoming Punjab Assembly elections independently, Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the state on July 17 is set to combine infrastructure outreach with political messaging. PM Modi will launch Highway projects worth Rs 5,278 crore aimed at easing congestion in the Chandigarh Tricity region and improving connectivity across Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Jammu & Kashmir. Read Full Story The high-value infrastructure package is expected to reinforce the BJP's development pitch for Punjab, with the party highlighting improved connectivity, economic growth and employment opportunities as key priorities ahead of the polls. The Rs 5,278-crore package includes one completed expressway that will be inaugurated and the foundation stones of two major highway projects.
The first project is the 31.23-km Zirakpur-Kurali Greenfield Highway, constructed at a cost of Rs 1,936 crore. The si lane highway is expected to significantly reduce travel time between Zirakpur and Kurali while improving connectivity to Punjab's interior regions. The Prime Minister will also lay the foundation stone for the 19.20-km Zirakpur Bypass, a si lane project worth Rs 1,878 crore. The bypass is aimed at diverting long-distance traffic away from the densely populated Zirakpur area, providing relief to commuters facing frequent congestion. The third project is the 10.30-km Chandigarh Airport-Aerocity Greenfield Highway, an extension of NH-205A, which will be developed at a cost of Rs 1,464 crore.
The corridor is expected to strengthen connectivity between Chandigarh International Airport, Mohali's Aerocity and the rapidly expanding urban clusters around the Tricity. For residents of Chandigarh, Mohali, Panchkula and Zirakpur, the projects are expected to provide relief from persistent traffic bottlenecks. Thousands of commercial vehicles and long-distance travellers from Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Jammu & Kashmir currently pass through the Tricity due to limited alternative routes. This has put major roads such as Madhya Marg, Dakshin Marg and the Chandigarh-Zirakpur corridor under severe pressure. The new highway network aims to separate local traffic from transit movement by creating dedicated bypasses and greenfield corridors, reducing pressure on Chandigarh's internal roads.
Officials expect the projects to improve travel times, road safety and fuel efficiency while reducing congestion-related delays. The enhanced connectivity is also expected to boost freight movement, lower logistics costs and support industrial growth, tourism and investment across the region. The highway projects are part of the Centre's broader push to modernise transport infrastructure and strengthen regional connectivity. With the BJP stepping up its political preparations in Punjab, the July 17 launch is likely to serve as both an infrastructure milestone and a key electoral message from the party. Ends
The BriefWire