The Central Government has notified the ambitious NE-5 Expressway project, giving a major push to infrastructure development in North India. The high-speed corridor will link Delhi with Katra and improve connectivity between the National Capital Region and Jammu and Kashmir.
The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways issued the notification under the National Highways Act, 1956, by amending the national highways network. With this step, the proposed Delhi-Katra Expressway has moved closer to implementation, including land acquisition, alignment surveys and other development work.
As per the notification, the expressway will begin near Rani Khera village in Delhi where it connects with NH-344M. From there, it will link with the Kundli-Manesar-Palwal Expressway near Jasaur Kheri village and continue through several parts of Haryana and Punjab before reaching Katra in Jammu and Kashmir.
In Haryana, the planned route will cover Kharkhoda, Gohana, Butana, Kalayat and Barta. In Punjab, the corridor is proposed to pass through Gulzapur, Patran, Bhawanigarh, Dhuri, Malerkotla, Ahmedgarh, Mullanpur Dakha, Nurmahal, Kangsabu, Kartarpur, Gurdaspur bypass and Balsua before joining NH-144 near Katra.
The NE-5 Expressway is likely to improve travel and trade across Delhi, Haryana, Punjab and Jammu and Kashmir once it becomes operational. Faster movement of goods and better road connectivity are also likely to strengthen economic activity across the northern region.
According to transport and infrastructure experts, the corridor could play a major role in freight transportation and religious tourism. Pilgrims travelling to the Mata Vaishno Devi shrine in Katra are expected to benefit from smoother connectivity. The project may also help industrial and farming regions in Haryana and Punjab by improving transport access.
The notification is part of the Centre’s larger effort to strengthen India’s expressway network and improve connectivity across important economic and strategic routes.
Apart from improving transport, the project is likely to create employment opportunities during construction and boost development along the corridor.
Logistics parks, industrial centres, hotels and other commercial activities are also expected to grow in areas connected by the expressway. Better road access may further support tourism and bring fresh investment to smaller towns along the route.
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