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New Expressway Slashes Delhi-Katra Travel Time
25 Feb
Summary
- Expressway will cut Delhi to Katra travel time to six hours.
- Project connects Amritsar's Golden Temple to Mata Vaishno Devi shrine.
- Roadwork faced delays due to security operations and heavy rains.
The Delhi-Amritsar-Katra Expressway is slated for completion by March 2027, marking a significant infrastructure development in India. This National Expressway 5, initiated in April 2021, faced considerable setbacks last year due to Operation Sindoor and extensive flooding across northern regions.
Upon its inauguration, the expressway will dramatically improve regional connectivity, enhance religious tourism, and ensure faster troop deployment. The travel distance between Delhi and Katra will be reduced from 727 to 588 kilometers, slashing the travel duration from 14 hours to approximately six hours.
Project Director Rajiv Kumar of NHAI Jammu highlighted the challenges, including a reduced effective work period last year and difficulty in retaining manpower during tense security situations. Heavy rains also caused damage to bridges, disrupting supply lines, but work is now progressing rapidly.
Strategically vital due to its proximity to the International Border, the expressway will facilitate quicker movement for defense forces. Advanced segmental bridge construction technology, similar to that used for the Delhi Metro, is being employed to overcome construction hurdles. The NHAI aims to complete a 30-kilometer stretch of the Jammu-Kathua section before the upcoming Amarnath Yatra.
