India, April 12 -- Chandigarh

The Punjab and Haryana high court has directed heads of 11 districts in Punjab to handover land for National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) projects, including strategic Delhi-Amritsar-Katra Expressway, by May 5.

The directions were passed by the high court bench of justice Sureshwar Thakur and justice Kuldeep Tiwari on April 4, during resumed hearing of a petition by the NHAI filed in August 2024 alleging delay in acquisition of land for NHAI projects in Punjab.

On April 4, the court had summoned DCs and SSPs of all districts as it remained dissatisfied with the progress of land acquisition and handing it over to NHAI by the Punjab government.

According to NHAI counsel, senior advocate Chetan Mittal,...