Contract awarded, but work on Ludh Bypass yet to take off ground

Ludhiana: Though NHAI re-awarded the Southern Ludhiana Bypass project to a company in Jan-end, the work is yet to take off. Official sources said it is expected to start after the wheat harvesting season. The 25.

24km long six-lane greenfield project will connect the existing Ludhiana-Delhi National Highway (NH-44) at Rajgarh village to the under construction Delhi-Katra Expressway near Ballowal village, close to the Raikot area. In May 2022, Ceigall India Limited was declared the lowest bidder for the project, but the contract was not awarded, reportedly due to land acquisition issues. This time around, after NHAI the bids for the project again last October, the same company emerged as the lowest bidder.



Sharing details about the latest status of the project, an NHAI official said the appointment date for the project is yet to be issued. After the appointment date for the project is issued, the contractor will have to get a loan to start the project, the official added. "The company will start mobilising men and machinery for the project.

The deadline for completion is two years," the official said, adding, "We expect the work on the ground to start after the wheat harvesting season, as the farmers whose land has been acquired for the project have sown crops there." He said in 15 villages which the road will span, NHAI has possession of land in most..