Ludhiana repairs highway to improve airport access

Ludhiana: The Halwara international airport is close to completion, but the road connecting it to major routes needs repairs. Work has started on a 57-kilometer state highway that has not been fixed since it was laid in 2016. Authorities expect the repairs to be done by the end of June. The highway runs from Mullanpur to Barnala via Raikot. It has become dangerous due to potholes and poor maintenance. Officials from the public works department (PWD) say that at least 18 kilometers of the highway are in bad shape. Key areas affected include Mullanpur, Sudhar Town, and some sections in Barnala. A PWD official mentioned that the state government ordered repairs after assessing the road's condition. The tender for the project was issued in February, and work began on March 20. The repairs are estimated to cost ₹20 crore. Delaying the project could have made it much more expensive, the official added. Upgrading the road will help improve access to the Halwara airport and the nearby Air Force Station, according to PWD executive engineer Pradeep Kumar. Local commuters, especially those traveling between Raikot and Barnala, are looking forward to better road conditions and shorter travel times once the work is finished. Residents near the highway are urging authorities to complete the repairs quickly. Lakhvir Singh, a local resident, expressed concerns about the road's worsening condition. He stressed the importance of ensuring good road conditions before the airport opens, as poor connectivity would affect passengers. Additionally, a PWD official has suggested widening the Halwara-to-Aitiana link road, which currently measures only 5 meters wide. This road will need to accommodate more traffic once the airport is operational, and officials recommend expanding it to at least 7 meters.