The state’s Public Works Department (Building and Roads) has been at work since 1854 constructing and maintaining roads, bridges and buildings. Its aim is to achieve high standards of construction at the most economical cost and it is quick to adapt new methods toward this end. The Public Works Department maintains material database, has standardized the specifications, schedule of rates, confidential analysis for adoption by other departments, boards and corporations of the State Government. Road construction in Punjab is mechanized. Hot mix plants, paver finishers and tandem vibratory rollers have replaced manual methods and are in line with the latest road construction and maintenance practices worldwide. Similarly, bridge construction methods have been brought at par with the latest technology by using strands pre stressing and other technology. This has resulted in quicker, better and more economical execution to civil works. Funds for the maintenance of State and Link roads are provided by the State government and for National Highways by Government of India.

One major reason for the tremendous development in agriculture has been these link roads connecting almost all villages in Punjab. These all-weather, black top roads has been used by the enterprising farmers of Punjab to transport the grain from the fields, to feed the country.

Punjab provides a very good system of passenger transport. A total of 54836 kilometer long roads passes through it. Almost all villages of the state are linked with mettled roads. Its modern bus fleet of 3,511 buses covers a distance of 1.05 million Kilometers per day. The state government proposes to construct Express highways and free ways for speedier vehicular traffic. The Punjab Government proposes to construct 50 ROBs and 3 Super Bus Terminals (Jalandhar, Amritsar and Ludhiana) on BOT basis. Upgradation of Chandigarh-Ludhiana, Zirakpur-Patiala, Ropar-Nawanshahar, Jagraon-Nakodar highway projects has been taken in a big way.

All villages connected by metalled roads and towns of adjoining states connected by National Highways

National Highway No.1, with four-laning half-way complete, passes through Punjab from Ambala to Amritsar, linking Punjab with Haryana, J&K and Delhi.
National Highway No. 21, (Ambala-Shimla), passing through Chandigarh and linking Punjab with HP.
Kilometers of National Highways: 1729 Kms
Kilometers of Provincial Roads: 48660 Kms
Roads per 100 sq. kms.:118 km
Percentage of villages linked with roads 99.24
Highest Surface Length/100sq Km. 95 Km
National Highways: 977 Kms
State Highways: 2166 Kms
Major Distt. Roads: 1799 Kms
Other District Roads: 3340 Kms
Link Roads: 31657 Kms