Land for all seven road infra projects in Mohali handed over to NHAI

All acquired land for seven key highways projects was handed over to the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI). A total sum of Rs 1,951.35 crore, meanwhile, has been disbursed to 6,650 landowners in the district.

The district administration had acquired approximately 588.70 hectares of land for IT City-Kurali Greenfield Corridor, Ambala-Chandigarh Greenfield Corridor, Mohali-Sirhind-Sehna Greenfield Corridor, and Zirakpur bypass, clearing it for hassle-free development of the key NHAI projects in the region.

Facing with serious headwinds due to land acquisition issues and ongoing farmers agitation, most of the NHAI projects were in doldrums in the state. Union Minister Nitin Gadkari had even threatened to cancel the stalled projects.

“From award of land to possession, it took a little more than three years. Taking actual possession of the land began in 2023. Hopefully, many of these will finally see the light of the day,” an official privy to the developments said.

In terms of area of land acquired for the highways, the IT City Chowk-Kharar-Kurali corrirdor, measuring 215 hectares and involving 2,200 landowners, is the largest NHAI project in the district. Of the total185 land awards in the district, 84 were for the project.

In terms of landowners affected, however, the Ambala-Chandigarh Greenfield Corridor was the biggest in magnitude. A total of 2,500 owners from 28 villages were compensated across the district.

The flagship corridor will decongest the Airport Road by connecting the Airport Chowk to the Kurali bypass.

Deputy Commissioner Aashika Jain said, “The entire 31.23-km stretch for six-lane highway from IT City Chowk to Kurali-Chandigarh road in Mohali, 27.37-km Sirhind-Mohali highway in Mohali and Fatehgarh Sahib, and 30.83-km area for Ambala-Chandigarh Greenfield project have been handed over to the NHAI.”

Of the 29 ongoing national highway projects in the state, seven are in Mohali districr.