Delhi–Amritsar–Katra Expressway: PM Inaugurates 188 km Stretch (2026)

By Vikas Sir, Founder & Senior Faculty – Cosmo Classes | 18 July 2026

The Delhi–Amritsar–Katra Expressway is a 667 km access-controlled highway corridor being developed by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) under the Bharatmala Pariyojana. On 17 July 2026, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated Packages 1 to 5 (157.92 km in Jind, Haryana) and Package 6 (30.9 km in Jalandhar, Punjab) — together covering more than 188 km.

The expressway is planned as a four-lane road with provision for future expansion to eight lanes. Packages 1 to 5 alone cost about ₹9,680 crore. As a greenfield corridor, it links Delhi, Amritsar and Katra across Haryana, Punjab and Jammu & Kashmir, and is designed specifically to ease pressure on NH-44 — the historic Grand Trunk (GT) Road.

The travel-time gains are striking. The inaugurated stretches are expected to cut the Delhi–Katra journey from about 14 hours to nearly 6 hours, and the Delhi–Amritsar trip from around 8 hours to 4 hours. This is especially significant for pilgrims, since the corridor connects to the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi shrine at Katra in Jammu & Kashmir.

Beyond travel, the expressway is planned to support industrial and logistics development along its route. Access-controlled highways in India permit only limited entry and exit points, which allows for smoother, faster and safer traffic flow. For aspirants, this connects infrastructure, connectivity and government programmes — a common theme in UPSC, RPSC, SSC and State exams.

Important Facts for Exams

  • ◆ The Delhi–Amritsar–Katra Expressway is a 667 km access-controlled greenfield corridor.
  • ◆ It is developed by NHAI under the Bharatmala Pariyojana.
  • ◆ On 17 July 2026, Packages 1–5 (157.92 km, Jind) and Package 6 (30.9 km, Jalandhar) were inaugurated.
  • ◆ It is a four-lane road expandable to eight lanes; Packages 1–5 cost about ₹9,680 crore.
  • ◆ It reduces the Delhi–Katra journey from ~14 hours to ~6 hours.
  • ◆ It links to the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi shrine at Katra and eases pressure on NH-44 (GT Road).

Practice Questions (MCQs)

Total 10 questions — 7 medium level and 3 UPSC/RPSC level.

Moderate

Q1. Under which programme is the Delhi–Amritsar–Katra Expressway being developed?

(A) PM Gati Shakti
(B) Bharatmala Pariyojana
(C) Sagarmala
(D) Setu Bharatam
View Answer
Answer: (B) Bharatmala Pariyojana
Explanation: As per the facts covered in this article, the correct choice is "(B) Bharatmala Pariyojana", which matches the detail asked in the question.
Moderate

Q2. What is the total planned length of the expressway?

(A) 667 km
(B) 244 km
(C) 188 km
(D) 500 km
View Answer
Answer: (A) 667 km
Explanation: As per the facts covered in this article, the correct choice is "(A) 667 km", which matches the detail asked in the question.
Moderate

Q3. Which agency is developing the corridor?

(A) CPWD
(B) NHAI
(C) BRO
(D) DMRC
View Answer
Answer: (B) NHAI
Explanation: As per the facts covered in this article, the correct choice is "(B) NHAI", which matches the detail asked in the question.
Moderate

Q4. The corridor connects to which pilgrimage site at Katra?

(A) Amarnath
(B) Shri Mata Vaishno Devi shrine
(C) Golden Temple
(D) Kedarnath
View Answer
Answer: (B) Shri Mata Vaishno Devi shrine
Explanation: As per the facts covered in this article, the correct choice is "(B) Shri Mata Vaishno Devi shrine", which matches the detail asked in the question.
Moderate

Q5. The expressway is designed to reduce pressure on which existing highway?

(A) NH-48
(B) NH-44 (GT Road)
(C) NH-19
(D) NH-8
View Answer
Answer: (B) NH-44 (GT Road)
Explanation: As per the facts covered in this article, the correct choice is "(B) NH-44 (GT Road)", which matches the detail asked in the question.
Moderate

Q6. The inaugurated stretches reduce the Delhi–Katra travel time to nearly:

(A) 4 hours
(B) 6 hours
(C) 10 hours
(D) 14 hours
View Answer
Answer: (B) 6 hours
Explanation: As per the facts covered in this article, the correct choice is "(B) 6 hours", which matches the detail asked in the question.
Moderate

Q7. The expressway is initially a four-lane road, expandable to how many lanes?

(A) Six
(B) Eight
(C) Ten
(D) Twelve
View Answer
Answer: (B) Eight
Explanation: As per the facts covered in this article, the correct choice is "(B) Eight", which matches the detail asked in the question.
UPSC/RPSC Level

Q8. Consider: 1) Packages 1–5 cover 157.92 km in Jind, Haryana. 2) Package 6 covers 30.9 km in Jalandhar, Punjab. 3) The corridor passes through Haryana, Punjab and J&K. Which are correct?

(A) 1 and 2 only
(B) 2 and 3 only
(C) 1 and 3 only
(D) 1, 2 and 3
View Answer
Answer: (D) 1, 2 and 3
Explanation: As per the facts covered in this article, the correct choice is "(D) 1, 2 and 3", which matches the detail asked in the question.
UPSC/RPSC Level

Q9. With reference to access-controlled highways, consider: 1) They permit limited entry and exit points. 2) They allow smoother traffic flow. 3) The Delhi–Amritsar–Katra Expressway is a greenfield project. Which are correct?

(A) 1 and 2 only
(B) 2 and 3 only
(C) 1 and 3 only
(D) 1, 2 and 3
View Answer
Answer: (D) 1, 2 and 3
Explanation: As per the facts covered in this article, the correct choice is "(D) 1, 2 and 3", which matches the detail asked in the question.
UPSC/RPSC Level

Q10. Packages 1 to 5 of the expressway cost approximately:

(A) ₹5,278 crore
(B) ₹9,680 crore
(C) ₹12,000 crore
(D) ₹1,936 crore
View Answer
Answer: (B) ₹9,680 crore
Explanation: As per the facts covered in this article, the correct choice is "(B) ₹9,680 crore", which matches the detail asked in the question.

UPSC / RPSC Relevance

  • ➜ Prelims: Bharatmala Pariyojana, NHAI, expressway length, NH-44/GT Road.
  • ➜ Mains GS-III: Infrastructure, connectivity, logistics and regional economic development.
  • ➜ Geography: Route across Haryana, Punjab and J&K; pilgrimage connectivity to Katra.

UPSC Mains Descriptive Question

"Greenfield access-controlled expressways are reshaping India's logistics geography and pilgrimage connectivity alike." Discuss with reference to the Delhi–Amritsar–Katra Expressway. (250 words, 15 marks)