Barinderjit.Saluja
Mohali-Sirhind highway to open by end of Sept
Mohali: Commuters between Mohali and Sirhind are set to get a major travel boost, with the Rs 651 crore Mohali-Sirhind greenfield national highway likely to be opened for traffic by the end of Sept after clearing its final inspection stage.The 27.37km access-controlled corridor, being developed by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) under the Bharatmala Pariyojana, will provide a direct, signal-free link between Mohali and Sirhind/Fatehgarh Sahib, bypassing congestion-prone stretches, including Landran Chowk.Confirming the development, NHAI project director Ashim Kumar Bansal said the highway is complete and the final inspection has been conducted. “We are likely to throw it open for traffic by Sept-end,” he said.The new highway begins near Bhagomajra village in Mohali, close to Sector 110, and connects with NH-44 near Sirhind/Fatehgarh Sahib. Officials expect the project to significantly reduce travel time while strengthening connectivity between Mohali, Fatehgarh Sahib and other parts of Punjab.The corridor is also expected to divert a substantial volume of through traffic away from existing urban roads, providing relief to motorists navigating busy junctions and bottlenecks in the Mohali-Landran belt.With major structures, including railway overbridges, already in place and the final inspection completed, only procedural formalities remain before the highway is formally opened to the public.PROJECT AT A GLANCE• Highway: Mohali-Sirhind Greenfield NH (NH-205AG)• Length: 27.37 km• Type: 4-to-6 lane access-controlled corridor• Project cost: ₹651 crore• Executing agency: NHAI• Contractor: Varindera Constructions Ltd.• Connectivity: Mohali-Sirhind/Fatehgarh Sahib-NH-44WHAT COMMUTERS GAIN• Direct Mohali-Sirhind connectivity• Relief from Landran Chowk congestion• Faster, signal-free travel• Seamless link to NH-44• Improved access towards Chandigarh airport and regional road network
