Kashmir, February 26,2026-The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has stated that the ambitious Delhi–Katra Expressway project is progressing steadily and remains on schedule for completion by March 2027. The mega infrastructure corridor is expected to significantly enhance road connectivity between the national capital and Jammu & Kashmir, while boosting economic activity across northern India.
Spanning approximately 670 kilometers, the access-controlled greenfield expressway is being developed at an estimated cost of over ₹35,000 crore. Once operational, the corridor will reduce travel time between Delhi and Katra to nearly six to seven hours, offering faster, safer, and more efficient connectivity.
According to NHAI officials, construction work across various packages is advancing as per timelines, with bridges, tunnels, and elevated sections taking shape in multiple stretches. The expressway will pass through key states including Haryana, Punjab, and Jammu and Kashmir, improving regional integration and accessibility.
The project is expected to provide a major boost to pilgrimage tourism, especially for devotees visiting the holy shrine of Vaishno Devi Temple. Improved road infrastructure will ease congestion, enhance travel comfort, and promote tourism-related businesses in the region.
Beyond tourism, the expressway is also seen as a catalyst for trade and logistics, reducing transportation costs and facilitating smoother freight movement. The corridor will strengthen supply chains, support agricultural and industrial growth, and open new avenues for investment in Jammu & Kashmir and adjoining states.
Officials reiterated that the project is part of the Government of India’s broader infrastructure development strategy aimed at accelerating economic growth, improving connectivity in border regions, and modernizing national highway networks.
With steady construction progress and a firm completion target of March 2027, the Delhi–Katra Expressway is poised to become a transformative connectivity project for North India.
