Rajinder Gupta, Rajya Sabha MP from Punjab, met Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari in New Delhi on Wednesday. In this high-level meeting, many important issues of road transport and highways related to the state of Punjab were discussed in detail. Rajinder Gupta prominently raised some issues related to the Delhi-Katra Expressway, which is especially important for the people of Punjab. He informed the Union Minister that a part of the Delhi-Katra Expressway has already been connected to Khanuri in the state of Punjab, bringing great relief to the commuters of the region.
Issue of delay in Malerkotla and Bhawanigarh connectivity
MP Gupta insisted that there is unnecessary delay in connecting the Bhawanigarh and Malerkotla exit and entry points of the expressway. He told the minister that the work of connecting the Sangrur and Malerkotla districts of Punjab with the expressway is almost on the verge of completion, but the delay in finalizing the exit and entry points is causing inconvenience to lakhs of passengers. This connectivity will significantly reduce travel time and cost for the residents of both the districts. After carefully listening to MP Rajinder Gupta’s concerns, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari assured him that the matter would be dealt with on priority basis.
Gadkari informed MP Rajinder Gupta that he himself would soon inspect the site along with Gupta, to ensure that the Malerkotla entry/exit point becomes functional at the earliest. Making the important announcement, the Union Minister said, “We will ensure that the Malerkotla connectivity becomes fully operational and functional by the end of March 2026.
Once this road network is fully operational, lakhs of citizens traveling in the region will get a huge relief. Trade, commerce and religious trips will also get a big boost from this. MP Rajinder Gupta thanked Union Minister Nitin Gadkari for his positive response and assurance of prompt action. He hoped that the work would be completed within the stipulated time frame, thereby fulfilling the long-standing demand of the people of Punjab.