According to reports published on 1 Oct 2026, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) told the Punjab and Haryana High Court that strengthening work on the Ambala–Kaithal road is targeted for completion by March 2027. For people using the route, the update means the repair deadline is a target rather than an immediate change to road conditions; NHAI’s counsel also said the toll plaza belongs to an earlier project, not the current strengthening package.
The distinction matters for drivers and transport operators because the court proceeding concerns both the condition of the road and the continued toll question. The latest update does not announce a toll waiver, a new fee, or a suspension of collection.
Key takeaways
- NHAI has told the Punjab and Haryana High Court that the current strengthening work is targeted for completion by March 2027.
- The toll plaza on the route was described in court as part of an earlier project, not the present road-strengthening work.
- The court has fixed 5 Apr 2027 for a fresh progress report.
- Route users should treat the corridor as an active-work area until official notices say conditions have changed.
Illustrative AI-generated image of highway rehabilitation; it is not a photograph of the Ambala–Kaithal road. Credit: FuelPrice.What NHAI told the High Court
The Tribune reported on 1 Oct 2026 that NHAI’s counsel gave the March 2027 completion target during a hearing before the Punjab and Haryana High Court. Dainik Jagran reported the same deadline and said the court is expected to receive an updated progress report at its next hearing on 5 Apr 2027.
The proceeding follows allegations that the Ambala–Kaithal stretch was in poor condition and that construction had remained incomplete for nearly three years. Those are allegations recorded in the court proceedings, not a finding by FuelPrice. The reports say the court took up the matter in public interest and asked NHAI to participate in the case.
The official Government eProcurement System separately lists an NHAI package for four-laning of the Ambala–Kaithal section of NH-152 from km 0.000 to km 50.860. The tender description calls for rectification works at various locations, which supports the distinction between the wider road project and the current repair or strengthening activity.
Toll status and what the update does not change
NHAI’s position, as reported by both outlets, is that the toll plaza was established under an earlier project that has already been completed. The current work, according to the submission, is for strengthening the road. That clarification does not by itself change what a motorist pays at the plaza.
There is also no reported order in this update cancelling the toll, reducing the fee, or creating an exemption for vehicles travelling over unfinished sections. Drivers should therefore avoid treating the court case as a toll-rate notification. Before leaving, they can check the latest route estimate through FuelPrice’s toll-charge calculator and keep the toll payment record for the journey.
The court’s role here is to examine the concerns raised in the public-interest proceeding and receive a progress update. Any later direction on toll collection or road conditions would need to be reported separately and should not be inferred from the March 2027 target.
What drivers and fleets should expect until March 2027
A completion target several months away means route users should plan on variable conditions while work continues. The reports do not provide a new lane-by-lane traffic plan, a confirmed diversion schedule, or a revised toll rate. In practical terms, a driver making a fixed-time trip should allow a buffer for work-zone movement and follow the signs and instructions in force on the day.
That matters most for buses, delivery vehicles and other operators that run to a schedule. A slow section can affect the trip’s total time even when the toll itself is unchanged. Fuel use can also rise if a vehicle spends longer idling or takes a longer temporary route, but the actual effect will depend on traffic, vehicle type and driving conditions.
For a personal journey, the road-trip planner can help organise the route and stops before departure. Fleet or family travel budgets can be checked with the fuel-cost calculator using the vehicle’s own mileage and the current fuel price. These tools estimate trip costs; they do not replace NHAI or local traffic notices.
What to watch next
The clearest formal checkpoint is the High Court’s scheduled hearing on 5 Apr 2027, when a fresh report is expected. Before that date, the useful signals for motorists will be work-zone signs, local traffic advisories and any official NHAI update on progress. The March 2027 date should be read as NHAI’s stated target, not as a guarantee that every inconvenience will end on that day.
For now, the reader takeaway is simple: the Ambala–Kaithal strengthening work has a reported March 2027 target, while the toll plaza has been described as belonging to an earlier project. The two points address different parts of the dispute. Check the route and toll separately, allow extra time, and wait for an official fee or traffic notice before assuming that anything has changed at the plaza.
Sources
- The Tribune, “Ambala-Kaithal road project to be completed by March 2027, NHAI tells High Court” (1 Oct 2026)
- Dainik Jagran, “Ambala-Kaithal road project to finish by March 2027; NHAI tells High Court” (1 Oct 2026)
- Government eProcurement System, “Four laning of Ambala-Kaithal section of NH-152 from Km 0.000 to Km. 50.860 … Rectification works” (accessed 1 Oct 2026)
