Former MP Appeals for Amritsar's Inclusion in Expressway Project
Former MP and Padma Bhushan awardee Tarlochan Singh has written to Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari, urging a revision of the Delhi-Amritsar-Katra Expressway alignment to ensure direct connectivity with Amritsar. The proposed NE-5 Expressway, designed to link Delhi with Katra via Haryana and Punjab before entering Jammu and Kashmir, currently bypasses Amritsar district entirely, according to Singh's letter.
Alignment Concerns and Historical Promises
Singh highlighted that the current alignment, after entering Punjab from Jammu, is planned to traverse through Gurdaspur, Kartarpur, Nurmahal, Mullanpur, Malerkotla, Dhuri, Bhawanigarh, and Patran before heading towards Haryana. Notably, the route neither passes through nor touches the boundary of Amritsar district. The former MP recalled that when the project was first conceptualized, assurances were reportedly given that Amritsar's importance would be considered, and the corridor was even referred to as the Katra-Amritsar-Delhi route.
Amritsar's Significance as a Religious and Tourism Hub
Describing Amritsar as one of India's most prominent religious, cultural, and tourism destinations, Singh emphasized that excluding the city from the expressway alignment is a significant oversight. He urged the Union Government and the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) to review the project and make necessary amendments to bring Amritsar onto the corridor. According to Singh, linking Amritsar directly with the expressway would boost tourism, trade, and regional connectivity while strengthening access to one of India's most visited pilgrimage and heritage cities.
Call for Public Interest Revision
Singh appealed to the Centre to consider the matter in the larger public interest and revise the project plan accordingly. The expressway, once completed, is expected to significantly reduce travel time between Delhi and Katra, a key transit point for pilgrims heading to the Mata Vaishno Devi shrine. Including Amritsar, home to the Golden Temple—Sikhism's holiest site—would enhance the corridor's utility for millions of domestic and international visitors annually.
