The North News
Chandigarh, May 16
Punjab Education Minister and Sri Anandpur Sahib MLA Harjot Singh Bains has called for urgent acceleration of the four-laning project on the Sri Kiratpur Sahib-Nangal highway, describing it as a vital “dream project” for the region. At a high-level meeting held on Friday at the Punjab Civil Secretariat in Chandigarh, Bains directed officials from the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH), and the Punjab Public Works Department (PWD) to fast-track land acquisition and construction work. He also committed to personally reviewing the project’s progress on a weekly basis.
The highway connecting Punjab to Himachal Pradesh is of significant cultural and economic importance, linking spiritual centres such as Sri Anandpur Sahib and Mata Naina Devi. Bains stressed the urgent need to improve safety on what is often referred to as a “Killer Road,” due to frequent accidents and heavy traffic.
Bains’s efforts to push this project began in 2022, culminating in formal approval from Union Road Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari in December 2024. With the Detailed Project Report (DPR) completed, construction is now poised to advance rapidly. In addition to the highway expansion, Bains instructed NHAI officials to expedite work on the Bhartgarh-Bara Pind service lane, a project expected to ease local traffic and enhance commuter safety. He also demanded swift action on the construction of a long-overdue foot overbridge in the village of Sarsa Nangal, responding to a persistent request from residents for safer road crossing.
Bains’ proactive approach reflects a broader commitment to infrastructure development aimed at boosting regional connectivity and ensuring public safety.
