Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to visit Punjab on Friday, July 17, to inaugurate and launch three major highway projects worth ₹5,278 crore in the Chandigarh Tricity region. The projects are aimed at improving regional road connectivity, reducing traffic congestion, and strengthening transport infrastructure across Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, and Jammu and Kashmir. During the visit, the Prime Minister will dedicate the completed Zirakpur–Kurali Greenfield Highway to the nation and lay the foundation stones for two additional highway projects.
The largest among the three is the 31.23-kilometre, six-lane Zirakpur–Kurali Greenfield Highway, developed at a cost of ₹1,936 crore. The highway has been completed and is ready for public use. In addition, the Prime Minister will lay the foundation stone for the 19.20-kilometre, six-lane Zirakpur Bypass Highway, estimated to cost ₹1,878 crore, and the 10.30-kilometre Chandigarh Airport–Aerocity Greenfield Highway, valued at ₹1,464 crore. Together, these projects are expected to create an alternative road network for the rapidly growing Tricity region.
Chandigarh serves as a major transit hub for vehicles travelling between Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, and Jammu and Kashmir, resulting in heavy traffic movement through the city on a daily basis. This has led to frequent congestion at key intersections and longer travel times for commuters in Chandigarh, Mohali, and Panchkula. The new highway projects are designed to divert through traffic away from city roads, easing pressure on urban infrastructure while improving the overall efficiency of regional transportation.
Also Read: Punjab's Growing Strategic Role Could Transform India's National Security Leadership Landscape
The infrastructure projects are also expected to enhance connectivity to Chandigarh International Airport through a dedicated link connecting the airport with Aerocity. Officials believe the improved road network will reduce travel time for passengers and facilitate smoother movement of goods and commercial traffic. Faster transportation corridors are also expected to lower freight costs, support industrial and commercial activities, encourage tourism, and strengthen economic growth across the region by improving logistical efficiency.
Prime Minister Modi's visit comes amid ongoing political developments in Punjab ahead of the 2027 Assembly elections, with infrastructure remaining a key focus of the government's development agenda. While the highway projects are primarily intended to address long-standing traffic challenges in the Tricity region, authorities also expect them to contribute to broader economic development by attracting investment and improving connectivity. The projects are being viewed as an important step toward modernising regional infrastructure and supporting future growth.
Also Read: PM Modi To Visit Punjab, Launch Railway Projects Amid BJP’s Solo Strategy