Ludhiana Highway Projects Stalled by Land Disputes

Ludhiana’s ambitious infrastructure development is encountering significant roadblocks as four critical highway projects overseen by the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) face persistent delays. The most pressing issues revolve around land acquisition, which threatens the timely execution of these high-profile ventures.

Two of these projects are integral to the Outer Ring Road development. The Ludhiana-Rupnagar Greenfield Highway-I, spanning 37.7 kilometres from Ghumnewal to Bonkar near Cycle Valley, is particularly troubled. Although NHAI initially secured 29.7 kilometres of land, farmers have reclaimed a substantial portion, leaving only 6.1 kilometres under NHAI’s control. This land reclamation has halted progress and escalated the project’s complexity. Similarly, the Ludhiana-Rupnagar Highway-II, covering 47.2 kilometres, is encountering analogous issues. NHAI has only managed to acquire 12 kilometres of land thus far, divided equally between two spurs leading to Rupnagar and Doraha. Landowners in these areas are demanding higher compensation, further complicating the acquisition process.

The situation is compounded by the withdrawal of the letter of award for one of the projects, casting doubt on the future of all four initiatives. Without resolution on land acquisition, these projects risk being shelved indefinitely. NHAI officials report that while civil administration asserts progress in acquiring land, the persistent reclamation by landowners—who are demanding increased compensation—remains a major obstacle. Furthermore, NHAI’s reliance on police assistance for land possession until construction commences is proving to be unsustainable. The Ludhiana Deputy Commissioner has stated that work on the Ludhiana-Rupnagar Highway-I has commenced and claimed that 80% of the land for the Southern Ludhiana bypass has been secured. However, the project has faced additional setbacks as the contractor withdrew from the assignment.

Efforts are underway to expedite the Ludhiana-Bathinda project, with financial disbursements being accelerated. Officials are actively engaging with dissatisfied farmers, encouraging them to seek arbitration. Many farmers have already initiated arbitration proceedings, and compensation awards are being progressively announced.

Advocacy groups supporting farmers argue that unless compensation is aligned with current market rates, land-related disputes will persist. Kanwaljeet Khanna from the Inqulabi Kendra Punjab has highlighted the need for fair compensation, emphasising that the government benefits from toll revenues on these road projects and should therefore ensure equitable compensation for affected landowners.