NHAI fails to meet target in Punjab, Haryana

Delay in land acquisitions and regulatory hurdles have proved stumbling blocks in the construction of national highways in Haryana and Punjab. As against the target for the full financial year (2018-2019), the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has achieved construction of national highways of 40 km i.e. 15% of the target in Haryana as on November 30, 2018. According to the data, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has set a target of constructing 268 km of national highways (NHs) in Haryana during the current financial year. In Haryana, the major projects which are running behind schedule include four-laning of Ambala-Kaithal section, including package-I and II (95 km) and 4/6 laning of Uttar Pradesh border-Yamunanagar-Saha-Barwala-Panchkula (19 km). The projects were awarded between 2015 and 2016. Since the projects were running late, so in many cases the deadline for completion of the project has already been revised. The total length of the highway under implementation in the state is 516 km.