"NHAI has issued Letter of Award (LOA) to Gawar Construction for four-laning of Panchkula-Yamunanagar Section," the authority said in a statement.

The 19 km section will be build at an estimated cost of Rs 249 crore under NHDP Phase III, it said.

The existing 108 km long stretch of NH-73 between Panchkula and Yamunanagar connects Haryana to UP and passes through Barwala, Sahjadpur, Saha, Jagadhari cities.

Panchkula and twin cities of Jagadhari and Yamunagarnagar are important commercial and industrial centres of Haryana.

The highway passes through Khol-hi-raitan wild life sanctuary at two section from km 175.350 to km 176.00 & 177.090 to km 177.500 and leads to Saharanpur and Roorkee," the statement said.

The project has been divided into three packages. Package-I and Package-II have already been awarded on EPC mode.

The present length of 19 km has now been awarded on EPC (engineering, procurement and construction) mode which starts from km 160.356 near Barwala town and ends at km 179.249 at Panchkula.

The project is scheduled to be completed in 24 months from the date of commencement of the project.

It will have 4 major bridges, 3 major junctions, 25 minor junctions, 1 flyover, 1 vehicular underpass, 1 pedestrian underpass, 2 overhead bridges for wild animals crossing, 10 Bus Bays and 9 km long service road on both sides.

"Development of this section will improve connectivity to various villages and towns and confer boost to the economy of the area by way of providing access to various places of business and touristic importance," the statement said.