Project Overview

The Delhi-Amritsar-Katra Expressway is an infrastructure project connecting the three major states of India, including Jammu & Kashmir, Punjab, and Delhi. It is a 670 km long, four-lane (expandable to eight-lane) expressway. It begins at Jasaur Kheri village, near the Bahadurgarh border in Delhi, and ends at Sri Guru Ram Dass Jee International Airport in Amritsar, Punjab. Its another end point is at Katra in Reasi district, Jammu and Kashmir (near the Vaishno Devi temple). 

Currently, it takes approximately 14 hours to cover the distance of nearly 727 km between Delhi and Katra. Upon its full completion, it would reduce time travel to 6 hours, covering 588 km. Moreover, it also reduces the travel time between Delhi and Amritsar from 8 hours to 4 hours.  

The expressway aims to uplift the connections to famous religious places, such as Amritsar and Vaishno Devi temples in the Punjab & Kashmir region. Furthermore, it provides an improved transport network, resulting in a trade boost. 

Project Background

The Delhi-Katra Expressway is a project owned by the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) and is being constructed under the Bharatmala Pariyojana. The main objective of the project is to enhance road connectivity between the National Capital, Delhi, and the holy city of Katra, in Jammu & Kashmir, via Punjab. 

A final alignment was announced in January 2019, and the land acquisition process began. The Detailed Project Report (DPR) was prepared in November 2019 by M/S Feedback Infra Pvt Ltd. 

The land acquisition process started in January 2020, covering approximately 14,000 acres in Punjab and nearly 5,000 acres in Haryana. On 24th April, 2022, the Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone for the project, marking the start of the construction phase. 

The Delhi-Katra Expressway is also aligned with the Ludhiana–Delhi–Kolkata Industrial Corridor, one of 11 national industrial corridors in the country. As a result of this project, traffic congestion on the historic Grand Trunk Road (NH-44) will be alleviated, and pilgrims will be able to travel to holy places like Amritsar and Katra more quickly, which attract millions of pilgrims every year.

Delhi-Katra Expressway Completion Date

Initially, the expressway was expected to be completed by October 2023; however, delays were faced due to challenges such as land acquisition protests and increased construction costs. 

As of February 2025, the overall deadline was extended to March 2026 for several packages, particularly in Punjab and Jammu and Kashmir. Recent updates indicate the project is 80–90% complete in Haryana and Jammu and Kashmir, but only about 43% (273 km out of 635 km) in Punjab as of September 2024.

Project Timeline

Project Scope

The project scope includes the following: 

• Four-lane expressway: The Delhi-Katra Expressway is a 4-lane (expandable to 8 lanes) expressway connecting Jammu & Kashmir, Punjab, and Delhi. 

• Reduced travel time: The expressway reduces travel time from Delhi to Katra to 6 hours, and from Delhi to Amritsar, it will only take 4 hours. 

• Advanced Infrastructure: The expressway features advanced infrastructure, including trauma centers, bus bays, truck stops, food courts, recreational areas, green medians, and boothless tolling. It also includes a 1,300-meter cable-stayed bridge over the Beas River.

• Spur Corridor: The expressway includes a 99 km spur corridor from Nakodar to Sri Guru Ram Das Ji International Airport, Amritsar, via Sultanpur Lodhi, Goindwal Sahib, Khadoor Sahib, and Tarn Taran.

• Speed Limit: Fully access-controlled with a speed limit of 120 km/h for light vehicles and 80 km/h for heavy vehicles.

• Environmental Protection: The expressway embraces green medians and safety railings. Furthermore, it addresses environmental concerns, such as structural safety in excavation areas (e.g., Reasi district). 

Advanced Technologies used in the Delhi-Katra Expressway

The advanced technologies used to ensure safety and efficiency, before and after the operation, are as follows:

• Intelligent Transportation System (ITS): Installation of real-time traffic monitoring systems with CCTV Cameras and sensors to manage traffic and improve safety. 

• Geographical Information System (GIS): Utilization of GIS and GPS for precise route alignment, land acquisition planning, and monitoring construction progress.

• Toll Collection Systems: Automated toll collection systems using FASTag (RFID-based) for seamless and efficient tolling.

• Use of HPC: Utilizing high-performance concrete and steel composites for bridges and elevated sections to withstand environmental stresses.

Project Cost

The total estimated cost for the construction of the Delhi-Katra Expressway is INR 40,000 crore (approximately USD 4.82 billion). Initially, the project cost was estimated at INR 25,000. But the land acquisition challenges resulted in the increased cost of construction.

It covers the entire 670 km expressway, including the 397.7 km Delhi-Nakodar-Gurdaspur-Katra main section (NE-5) and the 99 km Nakodar-Amritsar Spur (NE-5A).  

Delhi-Katra Expressway Route Map

Delhi-Katra Expressway Route

The Delhi-Katra Expressway is a 670 km-long stretch connecting Delhi and Katra via Amritsar. It covers the major states, including Haryana, Punjab, and Jammu & Kashmir. It bypasses old congested roads, cutting the distance from Delhi to Katr to 588 km and from Delhi to Amritsar to 405 km. 

Passing through major interchanges like Ambala–Kaithal–Hisar Road (NH-152) near Kharak Pandwa & Amritsar–Tanda Road (NH-503A) near Sri Hargobindpur, the expressway connects religious destinations, such as Amritsar and Vaishno Devi temples in the Punjab & Kashmir region. 

Furthermore, the expressway reduces congestion on the heavily trafficked highways and integrates with existing highways like the Kundli–Manesar–Palwal (KMP) Expressway.

As National Expressway 5 (NE-5), it covers approximately 571 km of the Delhi–Katra corridor, including the 397.7 km Delhi–Nakodar–Gurdaspur section, and as NE-5A for the 99 km Nakodar–Amritsar spur. Light vehicles can travel at a speed of 120 km/h on it as it crosses Haryana, Punjab, and Jammu and Kashmir.

Entry & Exit Points at Delhi-Katra Expressway

• Starting Point: Junction with the KMP Expressway near Nilauthi/Jasaur Kheri village in Jhajjar district, Haryana. There is a proposal to extend this southward to Urban Extension Road II in Delhi, with DPR expected by September–October 2025.

• Ending Point: Katra in Reasi district, Jammu and Kashmir (near the Vaishno Devi temple). 

Amritsar Spur:  Sri Guru Ram Das Ji International Airport on Amritsar–Ajnala Road (NH-354) in Amritsar district, Punjab

States & Districts covered by the Delhi-Katra Expressway

Haryana Stretch Completion

The Haryana stretch of the Delhi-Katra Expressway is 135 km long, covering the Jhajjar district (Jasaur Kheri), Rohtak district (Hassangarh), and areas between Sampla and Kharkhoda in Sonipat district, as well as Lahkan Majra and Gohana in Jind district, and Kaithal, Narwana, and Kaithal districts.

The expressway has a speed limit of 120 km/hr for Light Motor Vehicles, and 80 km/hr for heavy vehicles. The Haryana stretch includes a total of seven toll plazas and only allows light motor vehicles and heavy motor vehicles.

The Delhi-Punjab highway has improved connectivity since it began its operation in November 2024. Easily accessible to Delhi, the expressway can be bridged near the Rukhi village in Gohana, connecting to the KMP Expressway at Nilothi in Jhajjar. 

Toll Rates at Haryana Section

Toll rates on the Haryana section of the Delhi Amritsar Katra Expressway are as follows:

• Light motor vehicles (Cars and Jeeps): INR 240 for a one-way trip and INR 360 for a round trip.

• Light commercial vehicles: INR 385 for one way and INR 580 for both ways

• Two-axle buses and trucks: INR 805 for one way and INR 1210 for a return journey

• Three axle commercial vehicles: INR 880 one way and INR 1320 for both sides.

Phases of Delhi Katra Expressway

The Delhi-Katra Expressway is built in two phases. Below follows a detailed description of the two phases:

Phase I 

Phase I of the Delhi-Katra Expressway is a 397.7 km greenfield stretch and includes a 99 km greenfield spur heading towards Amritsar, Punjab. The 397.7 km greenfield stretch, which begins at the Kundli-Manesar-Palwal (KMP) Expressway and heads towards Gurdaspur, Punjab. It falls on the Delhi-Nakodar-Gurdaspur (NE-5) Expressway. 

Nakodar–Amritsar (NE-5A) is a 99 km greenfield spur that starts from Nakodar, Punjab, and extends towards Sri Guru Ram Das Ji International Airport in Raja Sansi, Amritsar, passing through religious sites such as Sultanpur Lodhi, Goindwal Sahib, Khadoor Sahib, and Tarn Taran.

Phase I includes a total of 12 main packages & 3 spur packages connecting Nakodar to Amritsar. It includes facilities like trauma centers, ambulances, fire brigades, traffic police, bus bays, truck stops, and refreshment areas.

Phase II

Phase II of the Delhi-Katra Expressway is approximately 161 km long. It is a mix of brownfield and greenfield expressways, connecting Gurudaspur to Katra, through Jammu & Kashmir. 

The brownfield expressway focuses on the expansion of the existing highways NH-54 (old NH-15) and NH-44 (old NH-1), upgrading and widening them into a controlled-access expressway. 

The Greenfield expressway focuses on the construction of a 12.345 km Pathankot Link Road, connecting the expressway at Gobindsar village (Package 14) with Talwara Jattan Village on NH-44 in Gurdaspur District.

Phase II comprises 5 packages, with the initial bids awarded in September 2021. Three packages are expected to be completed by September 2025, and the entire phase is anticipated to be completed by March 2026. 

Upgrades existing highways, such as NH-54 (Amritsar–Gurdaspur) and NH-44, with new greenfield sections to bypass congested areas, thereby enhancing connectivity to Katra, the gateway to the Vaishno Devi temple.

Packages & Contractors of Delhi Katra Expressway

Benefits of the Expressway

The following are the benefits of the Delhi-Katra Expressway: 

• Reduced Travel Time: Delhi-Katra Travel Time reduced to six hours, and Delhi-Amritsar Travel Time reduced to 4 hours. 

• Improved Connectivity: Connecting existing highways, such as the Kundli-Manesar-Palwal (KMP) Expressway, NH-54, and NH-44, improves regional accessibility.

• Rise in Religious Tourism: Connections to the religious places, like the Vaishno Devi & Amritsar, boost visitors' experience with faster and safer travel to these destinations.

• Economic Boost: The easy access to Haryana, Punjab, and Jammu & Kashmir boosts trade and logistics, resulting in improved economic growth in the state. 

• Job Opportunities: The expressway brings multiple job opportunities during the construction and operation of the expressway. 

• Improved logistics: Provides a high-speed, access-controlled corridor for efficient movement of goods, reducing transportation costs and delays.

• Installation of Safety Tools: Incorporates crash barriers, retro-reflective signage, and LED lighting to ensure safer driving conditions.

Conclusion

The Delhi-Katra Expressway, built under the Bharatmala Pariyojana, is a transformative infrastructure project aimed at improving connectivity between the three states, Jammu & Kashmir, Punjab, and Delhi. The reduced travel time eventually results in boosting tourism in pilgrimage areas such as Vaishno Devi and the Golden Temple. It overall boosts the country's economy. 

It is a combination of greenfield and brownfield expressways, built to create a high-speed road corridor that boosts economic growth, reduces logistics costs, and improves regional connectivity. It includes features such as trauma centers, ambulances, fire brigades, traffic police stations, bus bays, truck stops, interchanges with refreshment facilities, and recreational areas to ensure safety and convenience. 

It further incorporates advanced technologies, such as intelligent transportation systems, precast concrete construction, and eco-friendly measures like rainwater harvesting, ensuring efficiency, safety, and sustainability. 

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