Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal laid the foundation stone of the 26-kilometre-long expressway today. The expressway will be constructed along the Sidhwan Canal at a cost of Rs 400 crore. The junior Badal said the expressway will take Ludhiana on an accelerated path of development.

Talking to mediapersons here, Sukhbir said it was a tribute of the Punjab government to the entrepreneurial skills of the Ludhiana residents, who have brought the city on the international industrial map.

He added it will also fulfill the commitment of the SAD-BJP government to upgrade Ludhiana’s infrastructure to international standards to meet the increasing demands of the growing industry and fast increasing population.

Setting a deadline for October, 2010, he said besides decreasing traffic, the expressway will also enable people to cover a distance of 26 kilometres in 15 minutes.

He added that flyovers would be constructed on the expressway on Malerlkotla, Dugri Raod, Pakhowal, Bhai Randhir Singh Nagar and Sarabha Nagar junctions. Badal said road over bridges (ROBs) would be constructed on the Dhuri-Delhi and Moga-Ferozepur rail lines, besides the underway on Ferozepur junction.

The Deputy Chief Minister said the project entails strengthening of the whole Sidhwan Canal with concrete from Manpur Head works to Ferozepur. He said this will help the locals and a service road would also be constructed on the left side of the canal.