Work on 2 bridges near Karnal lake gains pace, slab laying begins

Work on the construction of two additional bridges alongside the existing bridge over the Western Yamuna Canal (WYC) near Karnal Lake on NH-44 has picked up pace, with the construction agency beginning slab-laying work on the new bridges. The project, being executed by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), aims to remove a major bottleneck on the NH-44 and ease traffic congestion in the area.

The authorities say that around Rs 15 crore would be spent on the construction of the two additional bridges, which is a part of a larger project of around Rs 500 crore aimed at correcting geometric deficiencies and improving traffic movement along this highway.

At present, the bridge over the canal has a four-lane carriageway. Once the project is completed, the main carriageway on the bridge will be expanded to six lanes, while two additional two-lane bridges are being constructed on each side and connected to the service roads of the highway, said an official of the NHAI.

The existing bridge has become a major bottleneck as the main carriageway of NH-44 narrows from 10 lanes to just four lanes while crossing the canal bridge. The sudden reduction in road width slows down traffic and frequently results in congestion and traffic chaos, particularly during peak hours.

So far, the construction agency has completed work up to the girder-launching stage, and slab-laying work has now commenced. The additional bridges are expected to significantly improve traffic flow and provide smoother connectivity for commuters travelling on NH-44, he added.

“Two additional bridges near Karna Lake would provide much-needed relief to commuters. The new structures will be connected with the service lanes, allowing traffic to move more efficiently and improving accessibility to nearby areas,” he maintained.

As per the project, the foundation work had initially been targeted for completion by September 2025. However, restrictions imposed due to NCR-related regulations, including GRAP restrictions and the flow of water in the canal, affected the pace of construction, leading to a revision of the deadline to September 2026. Officials expressed confidence that the work would be completed before the revised deadline.

“We are hopeful it will be completed before the deadline,” he added.

Karnal MLA Jagmohan Anand said that due to the bottleneck at this point, it was an accident-prone area. Keeping in view the people's safety, the Union Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, while serving as CM, got this project approved from the Centre government.

“Now, under the leadership of Union Minister Manohar Lal Khattar and CM Nayab Singh Saini, this project has picked up momentum. It will improve road safety and reduce accidents on this stretch,” said Anand.