The voice of closing the three national highway projects of Punjab has also started rising in the Parliament. Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari himself had to present the Government of India’s side on the questions raised by Rajya Sabha member Vikramjit Singh Sahni.
The central government has said in the Rajya Sabha that these projects have been stalled due to land acquisition problems. In response to a question from Punjab Rajya Sabha member Vikram Sahni, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari said that NHAI has actually canceled projects worth Rs 3,303 crore due to land acquisition hurdles and non-fulfilment of requirements.
Gadkari also said that the Center has also sent a proposal to the Punjab government to acquire the land and complete the necessary conditions for the continuation of the projects. A 1500 km long national highway is being prepared in Punjab at a cost of Rs 52000 crore so far.
The National Highway Authority of India has also suffered due to delay in land acquisition compensation. The contractors working on the projects came to know about termination or suspension of contracts with NHAI. Claims have also been sought from NHAI by most of the contractors.
NHAI has already expressed displeasure over the lax attitude of Punjab government officials due to which NHAI decided to close three projects in Punjab worth Rs 3303 crore Ludhiana-Ropar-Kharar, South Ludhiana Bypass and Amritsar to Tanda Project.
Last month, NHAI Chairman Santosh Kumar Yadav had written to Punjab Chief Secretary Anurag Verma expressing his displeasure. Not only this project worth Rs 8245 crore is in jeopardy due to laxity of Punjab government officials, but other projects worth Rs 42,175 crore are also in jeopardy. The work of the most important project Katra, Amritsar, Delhi Expressway is also pending. Land acquisition in Tarn Taran and Amritsar has not been completed.
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