The Ambala ring road project, being developed by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), has reached around 90 per cent completion and is expected to provide an alternative route for traffic moving through Ambala on the Delhi-Chandigarh corridor.
The approximately 40-kilometre four-lane stretch is being constructed at an estimated cost of Rs 691 crore. Work on the project began in October 2023, with completion targeted for 2026. Once operational, the ring road will divert a significant portion of through traffic away from Ambala city and Ambala Cantonment.
A key feature of the project is its planned connectivity with five major national highways in the Ambala district. The road starts near Sadopur village on the Ambala-Chandigarh highway and will connect with the Ambala-Shamli highway. It will also link the Ambala-Saha highway at Khudda Kalan, the Delhi-Amritsar highway at Mohra village and the Ambala-Hisar highway at Balana village.
The connectivity is expected to improve the movement of vehicles travelling between several northern states. Traffic coming from Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh will have an alternative route around Ambala city and Ambala Cantt.
The project is particularly significant for Ambala, where the movement of long-distance commercial and passenger traffic has contributed to congestion on existing urban roads. By allowing through traffic to bypass the city, the ring road is expected to reduce pressure on major roads within Ambala and improve travel times for local residents.
Commercial vehicles travelling between different parts of northern India are also expected to benefit from the new connectivity. A dedicated bypass route could reduce travel through congested urban stretches, potentially lowering journey times and operating costs.
The project had faced delays during construction, with shortages of soil affecting progress. According to the available information, the issue has since been resolved, allowing construction activity to advance towards completion.
The Ambala ring road project has been planned in two phases. The overall development covers around 55 kilometres, including an existing 15-kilometre four-lane stretch between Balana and Sadopur village. The remaining approximately 40 kilometres is being constructed as part of the ongoing project.
Land acquisition for the development involved around 266 hectares across 30 villages. Of these, 27 villages are located in Haryana and three are in Punjab. The land acquisition was required to establish the new alignment and associated road infrastructure.
The project forms part of the broader effort to improve road connectivity around Ambala, an important transport junction in northern India. The city lies at the intersection of several major routes connecting Chandigarh, Delhi, Punjab, Haryana and other northern states. Consequently, traffic passing through the region includes both local vehicles and long-distance commercial traffic.
With the construction now around 90 per cent complete, the remaining work is expected to focus on completing the unfinished road sections and associated infrastructure before the targeted 2026 completion. Once opened, the ring road is expected to provide a more direct alternative for vehicles that do not need to enter Ambala city.
The completion of the project could also improve the efficiency of freight movement along the Delhi-Chandigarh corridor. By separating a portion of through traffic from local movement, the road is expected to reduce interaction between heavy vehicles and city traffic.
The Ambala ring road is therefore positioned as an important road infrastructure project for the region, linking multiple national highways while creating an alternative route around the city. Its completion will add another major connection to the highway network serving northern India.
