Rajinder Gupta, Rajya Sabha MP from Punjab, met with Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari in New Delhi on Wednesday. Several important road transport and highway issues concerning the state of Punjab were discussed in detail during this high-level meeting. Gupta highlighted some issues related to the Delhi-Katra Expressway, which is particularly important for the people of Punjab. He informed the Union Minister that a portion of the Delhi-Katra Expressway is already connected to Khanauri in Punjab, providing significant relief to travelers in this region.
The Delay in Connecting Malerkotla and Bhawanigarh
MP Gupta stressed that the work on connecting the Bhawanigarh and Malerkotla exit and entry points of the expressway is being unnecessarily delayed. He informed the Minister that the work on connecting Punjab’s Sangrur and Malerkotla districts with the expressway is nearing completion, but delays in finalizing the exit and entry points are causing inconvenience to millions of travelers. The operationalization of this connectivity will significantly reduce travel time and cost for residents of both districts. After carefully listening to MP Rajinder Gupta’s concerns, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari assured him that the matter would be addressed on a priority basis.
Gadkari informed MP Rajinder Gupta that he himself would soon inspect the site with Gupta to ensure that the Malerkotla entry/exit point becomes functional as soon as possible. Making the important announcement, the Union Minister said, “We will ensure that the Malerkotla connectivity is fully operational and functional by the end of March 2026.”
Once this road network is fully operational, it will provide immense relief to millions of citizens traveling in the region. It will also provide a major boost to trade, commerce, and religious travel. MP Rajinder Gupta thanked Union Minister Nitin Gadkari for his positive response and assurance of prompt action. He expressed hope that the work will be completed within the stipulated timeframe, fulfilling a long-standing demand of the people of Punjab.
