# Ludhiana–Bathinda–Ajmer Expressway

Ludhiana–Bathinda–Ajmer Expressway (earlier called Pathankot-Ajmer Expressway), consisting of 2 separate Ludhiana–Bathinda Expressway and Bathinda–Ajmer Expressway projects on the "Ludhiana–Ajmer Economic Corridor (EC-8)", is 6-lane (extendable to 8-lanes) access-controlled under-construction express national highway project by the NHAI which will connect Pathankot via Ludhiana to Bathinda and Ajmer. The movement of goods will be facilitated, via Ajmer, from northern states to ports at western coast such as Kandla port.
The expressway for the "Ludhiana–Ajmer Economic Corridor (EC-8)" was redesigned and broken into the following 3 different expressways, Pathankot–Ludhiana Expressway (subsumed in Delhi–Amritsar–Katra Expressway), Ludhiana–Bathinda Expressway, and Bathinda-Ajmer Expressway.

## Route

The expressway for the "Ludhiana–Ajmer Economic Corridor (EC-8)" was redesigned and broken into the following 3 different expressways:

### Pathankot-Ludhiana Expressway

It is already part of another larger standalone greenfield Delhi–Amritsar–Katra Expressway project.

### Ludhiana–Bathinda Expressway

"Ludhiana–Bathinda Expressway" is an approved 75.543 km long ₹1,716.17 crore (US$210 million) standalone greenfield project. It begins from the Delhi–Amritsar–Katra Expressway at "Ballowal" village 10 km southwest of Ludhiana and end at the Rampura Phul near Bathinda on the "Amritsar–Bathinda Expressway" section of the larger "Amritsar–Jamnagar Expressway".
* Package 1- on Bathinda side: ends at Rampura Phul on NH-7 between Bathinda–Barnala.
* Package 2- on Ludhiana side: begins at Ballowal on Delhi-Amritsar-Katra Expressway and ending near Sehna near Barnala. Includes connectivity to the Ludhiana International Airport.

### Bhatinda–Ajmer Expressway

"Bhatinda–Ajmer Expressway", approved by NHAI in May 2018 as a standalone greenfield project, will reduce the existing distance between Bhatinda and Ajmer by 120 km. The route will pass through Bhatinda, Sirsa (Jodhkan and Rampura Dhillon), Bhadra, Taranagar, Churu, Shekhawati, Salasar-Sikar, Kuchaman City, Makrana.

#### Punjab

Existing NH route passes through 2 districts.
* Bathinda district
** Bathinda, begins at Rampura Phul on NH-7 between Bathinda–Barnala.
** Rampura Phul to Maur via existing NH-254.
* Mansa district
** Sardulgarh on NH-703 Mansa-Sirsa, greenfield alignment from Maur to twin towns of Rori-Sardulgarh on Punjab-Haryana border.

#### Haryana

Greenfield alignment passes through 1 district:
* Sirsa district
** Rori in Haryana on SH-17 Rori-Talwandi Sabo and SH-101 Rori-Mandi Dabwali.
** Sirsa (east of), near Jodhka on NH-9 Sirsa-Hisar-Delhi.
** Sirsa (south of), near Nathusari Chopta on SH-103 Sirsa-Bhadra and SH-104 Nohar-Bhattu Mandi.
** Rampura Dhillon in Haryana on SH-17 Rori-Talwandi Sabo and SH-101 Rori-Mandi Dabwali.

#### Rajasthan

Greenfield alignment and upgrade of existing route passes through 5 districts. The following is greenfield route except where upgrade to existing route is mentioned.
* Hanumangarh district
** between Gogamedi–Bhadra.
* Churu district
** SH-31 between Sahwa and Bhadra, upgrade of existing SH.
** Bhanin on SH-36 between Sahwa and Taranagar, upgrade of existing SH.
** Taranagar on SH-6 between Sardarshahar and Rajgarh (Sadulpur).
** Churu, upgrade of existing SH-36 from Taranagar to Churu.
* Sikar district
** Fatehpur, from Churu via exiting NH-52.
** Laxmangarh between Salasar-Shekhawati, from Fatehpur via exiting NH-58.
** Sewad Bari toll plaza on SH-20, between Haneri and Shekhawati.
** Losal on MDR-24 between Didwana and Khoor.
* Nagaur district
** Kuchaman City (north of), at Ranasar on SH-7.
** SH-7, upgrade of existing SH route from Kuchaman City-Parbatsar.
* Ajmer district
** SH-7, upgrade of existing SH route from Parbatsar-Kishangarh.
** Ajmer, from Kishangarh to Ajmer via existing NH-448.

## Inter-connectivity

Following either interconnect or provide the alternate connectivity:
* Ludhiana: Delhi–Amritsar–Katra Expressway ring road Sudhar-Mullanpur state highway .
* Bathinda: Amritsar–Jamnagar Expressway (NH-754) at Dabwali.

## Current Status

* Ludhiana–Bathinda Expressway: 75 km greenfield expressway likely to be completed by end 2026.
** 2019: DPR completed.
** 2020 October: Land acquisition commenced.
** 2021: 13 bids received.
** 2022: Both Package-1 and Package-2 awarded to the contractors for the construction.
** 2024 August: Ludhiana-Bathinda package-2, which was awarded on 9 November 2021, has also not started due to problems in land acquisition in Barnala and Bathinda districts.
* Bathinda–Ajmer Expressway: 626 km greenfield expressway.
** 2024 October: Construction not yet commenced, completion date not yet announced.