Delhi To Chandigarh In Just 2 Hours? Delhi-Amritsar-Katra Expressway Nears Completion

Road travel between Delhi and Chandigarh could soon shrink to a couple of hours with a major expressway network nearing completion. The Delhi-Amritsar-Katra Expressway is expected to cut travel time between the two cities from a 5-6 hour affair to a 2-hour journey. Most stretches are expected to become operational between late 2026 and March 2027, reported News24. 

One of the largest road infrastructure projects in India, the route is being constructed at an estimated cost of approximately Rs 38,905 crore. The expressway has been engineered to support speeds of up to 120 kmph. 

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As per the revised route plan, travellers heading from Delhi toward Chandigarh will first take the Dwarka Expressway before linking to the Urban Extension Road and the Kundli-Manesar-Palwal Expressway. From there, vehicles will merge onto the Delhi-Amritsar-Katra Expressway and then connect via the Trans-Haryana Expressway toward Ambala and Chandigarh.

Representative Image 

Delhi to Katra in 6 hours

In addition to Chandigarh, the expressway will substantially improve access to Punjab and Jammu & Kashmir. While the Delhi to Amritsar journey will take approximately 4 hours, the Delhi to Katra travel could be reduced from nearly 14 hours to around 6 hours upon full completion of the project.

Earlier, the large-scale expressway development encountered delays across some Punjab segments due to issues with land acquisition and flooding in portions of Jammu & Kashmir. Even so, NHAI officials have recently confirmed that construction activity has regained momentum. The corridor is now aiming for completion by March 2027. Several important stretches are already close to being finished.

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The expressway network is set to transform connectivity throughout Delhi-NCR, Haryana, Punjab, and Jammu & Kashmir, the officials said. Quicker travel times are likely to improve tourism and logistics. It will also accelerate industrial development while relieving congestion on existing highways. Locations near key interchanges may also see fast-paced real estate and commercial expansion once the corridor becomes completely operational.