The Tribune impact: Nitin Gadkari reviews stalled NHAI projects in Punjab
Nitin Jain
Ludhiana, July 15
Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari on Monday reviewed the current status of the stalled projects of the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) in Punjab.
The review meeting, which lasted for over six hours in New Delhi, evaluated the current status to ensure timely completion of all crucial infrastructure initiatives in the border state.
Ministers of State Ajay Tamta and Harsh Malhotra, Punjab PWD Minister Harbhajan Singh ETO, Secretary Priyank Bharti, senior officials from the ministry and the NHAI, concessionaires, contractors and bankers attended the meeting.
Sources privy to the meeting told The Tribune that Gadkari expressed deep concern over the land acquisition hurdles that had stalled most of the ongoing NHAI projects in Punjab.
“He asked all central and state functionaries to work in tandem to ensure resumption of the stalled projects and ensure their completion at the earliest,” sources revealed. The minister also hinted at recalling/withdrawing the stalled projects in case these were not restored forthwith and allocate new projects in lieu of these to other states, which were ready to undertake infrastructure development, he added.
The review meeting by Gadkari came ahead of PM Narendra Modi’s scheduled meeting in this regard on July 31.
The development assumes significance as The Tribune had highlighted on July 12 that the unending farmers’ protests were costing Punjab dear. This is evident from the fact that the NHAI has already terminated three national highway projects worth Rs 3,303 crore, while the process has been initiated to scrap another four costing Rs 4,942 crore.
In Punjab, the NHAI is developing 1,500-km-long national highways at a cost of Rs 52,000 crore.
However, the delay in possession of acquired land and declaration of compensation, coupled with tardy disbursement of awards, have forced the contractors of several projects to foreclose or terminate agreements and raise claims against the NHAI.
Peeved over the issue, the NHAI had also moved the Punjab and Haryana High Court in 2022. Subsequently, an order was passed in October 2023, directing the state to facilitate the NHAI in taking over the acquired land. However, not much has moved on the ground and the farmers’ protest against land acquisition was leading to withdrawal of major infrastructure projects in the agrarian state.
NHAI Chairman Santosh Kumar Yadav has sought intervention of Punjab Chief Secretary Anruag Verma in facilitating the agency in taking over the acquired land to complete the pending highway projects without any further delay.
Taking cognisance of the matter, Chief Secretary Anurag Verma held a marathon meeting with all deputy commissioners, NHAI regional officers, project directors and Punjab ADGP in Chandigarh on Thursday.
Road infra
- 1,500 km highways under works
- Rs 52,000 crore total cost
- 3 projects worth Rs 3,303 crore terminated
- 4 projects worth Rs 4,942 crore in process of termination
- 31 projects worth Rs 42,175 crore stalled
(Source: NHAI)
