The 27.37-km Mohali-Sirhind Greenfield Highway, merging with NH-44 near Sirhind, is expected to cut travel time between Patiala and Chandigarh to just one hour once opened to commuters by September. The access-controlled, 4-to-6-lane corridor will also provide faster connectivity for residents of Ludhiana, Barnala, Moga and other districts of the region.
Current Status and Usage
Although the stretch is officially closed due to last-minute maintenance work, people have already started using it and sharing photos and videos of their experience on social media. The project has reached its final stages, according to Ashim Bansal, Project Director of NHAI. He stated that the road has not been opened yet due to the monsoon, as road markings and other works are still pending. “By the beginning of September, the road will be opened for the public,” Bansal said.
Connectivity Enhancements
One arm of the highway will connect near Landran, while the other will link to IT City, Mohali. According to road safety experts, the corridor will reduce travel time between Mohali and Sirhind to just 30 minutes, allowing drivers to bypass the congested Landran Chowk on State Highway 12A. Bansal has urged commuters to avoid using the stretch until work is complete, as timely assistance would be difficult in case of a vehicle breakdown.
Sirhind-Patiala Road Improvements
Meanwhile, the double-laning of the 29-km Sirhind-Patiala road, once considered a “killer stretch” due to frequent accidents, is expected to be completed by the end of July. According to Patiala DC Himanshu Aggarwal, the construction of the central divider is nearing completion, after which road markings will be carried out.
Resident Perspectives
For years, travel from Patiala to Chandigarh has been considered cumbersome due to illegally mushrooming colonies with direct entries onto the highway. Residents of Royal City have long demanded better connectivity between Mohali and Patiala. “The shifting of the interstate bus terminus near Urban Estate Chowk in Patiala turned out to be the biggest bottleneck for commuters heading to Chandigarh. The traffic lights from Chett Chowk to Mohali pose a major challenge for drivers,” said Kamaljit Singh, a resident of Officers’ Colony in Patiala. “The stretch not only adds to travel time but also leaves commuters completely exhausted,” he added.
Gurmeet Singh Sondhi, a banker from Moga, said most people traveling to Mohali currently use the busy single-lane state highway from Fatehgarh Sahib to Landran, which is accident-prone.
