Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the first 157.92-km stretch of this expressway during his visit to Jind, Haryana. Constructed at a cost of ₹9,680 crore, this newly opened section is part of the larger 667-km Delhi-Amritsar-Katra Greenfield Expressway, which aims to connect Delhi with Katra in Jammu & Kashmir.
A quicker route through four states
Covering Delhi, Haryana, Punjab, and Jammu & Kashmir, the expressway is being built at an estimated cost of ₹38,905 crore. It is designed as a four-lane highway with the potential for future expansion to eight lanes, offering a faster alternative to the heavily trafficked NH-44, one of North India’s busiest roadways.
The project has been divided into several construction packages to accelerate progress. With the first 157.92-km stretch now inaugurated, work on the remaining segments is ongoing.
Delhi-Amritsar-Katra Expressway: What travel time will it save?
A major highlight of this project is the significant reduction in travel time. As per the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), the journey from Delhi to Amritsar is expected to take around four hours when the expressway is fully operational, compared to the current travel time of seven to eight hours, depending on traffic conditions.
The Delhi-Katra journey will experience even greater improvements. The existing distance of approximately 727 km currently takes about 14 hours. With the expressway fully functional, this distance is expected to decrease to nearly 588 km, with travel time reduced to around six hours.
Which cities will the expressway connect?
The expressway commences near Delhi and passes through Haryana, including Jhajjar, Rohtak, Sonipat, Jind, and Kaithal. It then enters Punjab, linking major cities like Patiala, Sangrur, Malerkotla, Ludhiana, Jalandhar, and Nakodar.
From Nakodar, the expressway diverges into two routes.
One path leads to Amritsar, passing through Sultanpur Lodhi, Goindwal Sahib, Khadur Sahib, and Tarn Taran before arriving at Sri Guru Ram Das Ji International Airport. Significant attractions such as the Golden Temple and the Wagah Border will become much easier to access from Delhi, making weekend trips more convenient.
The other route heads towards Jammu & Kashmir through Kapurthala, Gurdaspur, Dinanagar, and Pathankot before reaching Katra, the base town for the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi shrine. Enhanced connectivity is expected to drastically cut down travel times for pilgrims visiting the shrine.
How the expressway will enhance connectivity
The Delhi-Amritsar-Katra Expressway is set to connect much more than just major urban centers. With nearly 35 significant interchanges, it will link industrial hubs, logistics parks, agricultural markets, and key religious sites, establishing a seamless transportation network throughout the region.
According to government sources, the expressway is anticipated to promote tourism, trade, and freight movement while effectively reducing travel time for both passenger and commercial vehicles.
