Delhi-Amritsar-Katra Expressway-Punjab CM asks Centre to expedite approval
KS Diwan/royalpatiala.in/ Chandigarh
Punjab Chief Minister Capt. Amarinder Singh on Saturday has written to Union Minister of Road Transport & Highways Nitin Gadkari seeking early approval of the proposed Delhi-Amritsar-Katra Expressway project.
The Expressway has been proposed as a greenfield project by the Government of India to connect the national capital with the important religious cities of Amritsar (in Punjab) and Katra (in Jammu & Kashmir).
A spokesperson of the Chief Minister’s Office said that earlier this year, the Chief Ministers of Punjab and Haryana had met Union Minister Gadkari to discuss the proposed alignment of the expressway, which would pass through the States of Haryana and Punjab up till Amritsar. Thereafter, the Punjab Government had conveyed its consent for adoption of alignment starting from Amritsar and going straight upto the International Airport, New Delhi. However, a formal decision on the approval of the alignment was yet to be taken by the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways.
The Chief Minister urged the Government of India to expeditiously approve the project as it would lead to improved connectivity and foster greater socio-economic development of the region, said the spokesperson.