The 29-kilometre Sirhind-Patiala road, previously notorious for frequent accidents, is set to become a safer and faster route for commuters. Work on the road is nearing completion, with the project expected to be finished by the end of July. Deputy Commissioner Himanshu Aggarwal confirmed that the construction of the road median is almost complete, and once road markings are done, travel on the stretch will become significantly smoother.
Travel Time Slashed by Half
Travel time on this route, which earlier ranged between 40 and 60 minutes, will now be reduced to just 20 to 30 minutes. This improvement is expected to ease daily commutes for thousands of travellers connecting Patiala with key neighbouring districts, including Mandi Gobindgarh, Fatehgarh Sahib, Mohali, and Chandigarh.
According to Deputy Commissioner Himanshu Aggarwal, the entire project is on track to be completed by the end of July. He stated that once road markings are finished, travel on the stretch will become smoother.
Safety Improvements and Expert Insights
Road safety expert Navdeep Asija noted that accidents have already decreased sharply, but the full impact of the project will become evident over the next two to three years as more colonies develop along the road and traffic speeds increase. He emphasised that managing intersections remains a key focus to prevent accidents.
The four-laning of the road, which was once considered a killer stretch, is expected to significantly improve connectivity and reduce accident risks. The project includes a 1.2-metre median separating two 8.75-metre-wide carriageways, a steel bridge over the Bhakra canal near Sidhuwal village costing over Rs 10 crore, and the acquisition of 22.59 hectares of forest land.
Religious and Cultural Significance
This road holds great religious importance as it forms part of the Sikh pilgrimage route. Pilgrims attending the Shaheedi Jor Mela, held in memory of Sahibzada Zorawar Singh and Sahibzada Fateh Singh at Fatehgarh Sahib, also visit Gurdwara Dukh Nivaran Sahib in Patiala. During the last week of December, long queues of tractors and trailers line up on this stretch. Earlier, when the road was only 60 feet wide, the movement of tractor-trailers, combined with roadside langars, caused significant traffic congestion.
Project History and Approval
The project was first approved in December 2021 by the then Congress government at a cost of Rs 119.6 crore. However, it was put on hold after the 2022 Assembly elections. In 2023, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann ordered the widening of the road on a priority basis, despite objections from the Forest Department over the felling of trees. The steel bridge over the Bhakra canal has already been opened to traffic.
