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New Indian Express
2 days ago
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Punjab's Rs 12,700 crore NH projects stalled; Rs 828 crore PMGSY road works scrapped over delays
CHANDIGARH: Multiple key road infrastructure projects in Punjab including major national highway developments and those under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana-III (PMGSY), are facing serious setbacks, with no clear timeline for completion. As many as sixteen national highway projects worth ₹12,700 crore, being implemented by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) and the Punjab Public Works Department (PWD), have either been stalled, significantly delayed, or face termination. The primary reasons cited are land acquisition hurdles and delays in obtaining statutory clearances. Simultaneously, rural road development has also taken a hit. Projects under PMGSY-III worth ₹828.87 crore, involving the upgradation of 64 roads and construction of 38 bridges, have been scrapped due to the state government's failure to float tenders and commence construction on time. Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari, in a written reply to Congress MP Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa, confirmed that eight projects are being executed by NHAI and another eight by the state PWD, all of which have encountered delays or stoppages. 'Projects in the state of Punjab are mainly delayed, stalled, or terminated due to land acquisition issues and delay in obtaining statutory clearances. The government is taking requisite measures, in consultation with stakeholders including the state government, to resolve these issues,' the Minister stated in Parliament. Key Affected Projects Under NHAI Delhi–Amritsar–Katra Expressway (Spur-II): 30.5 km stretch worth ₹2,197.17 crore terminated due to lack of land; fresh bids to be invited once land is acquired. Delhi–Amritsar–Katra Expressway (Spur-III): 28.07 km stretch worth ₹1,951.70 crore delayed, now scheduled for completion by 30 November 2026. Amritsar–Bathinda (Package-I): 39 km project worth ₹1,229.38 crore, originally set to finish by November 2024, now delayed until 31 December 2026. Amritsar–Ghoman–Tanda–Una (Package-I): 45.73 km stretch worth ₹1,443.47 crore also delayed, with a new completion target of 30 June 2026. Package-II of this corridor (31.05 km, ₹818.41 crore) has been terminated due to land issues. The Ludhiana–Rupnagar corridor has also been severely affected:
Time of India
3 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann writes to Union minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan: ‘Don't drop road, bridge projects'
1 2 Chandigarh: With uncertainty hanging over centrally-sponsored road projects in the state, Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann has sought the intervention of Union minister of rural development Shivraj Singh Chouhan to ensure the continuation of key road and bridge projects under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana-III (PMGSY-III) in the state. The appeal comes in light of a recent directive from the Union ministry of rural development that works which have not been tendered and works which have not started on the ground will be dropped. The CM's Aug 12 letter focused on 64 roads (628.48km) and 35 bridges, which are planned for construction using a new, environment-friendly technology called Full Depth Reclamation (FDR). He emphasised that dropping these projects would not only "hamper overall connectivity" but also "defeat the essence of the PMGSY-III project", which is designed to connect, upgrade, and strengthen rural road infrastructure. "In case the construction of these long-span bridges (LSBs) is not taken up now, it will not only defeat the purpose of upgradation of the said roads under PMGSY-III but the expenditure incurred on the roads will also be wasteful because the locations will be more prone to accidents," Mann said. "The bridges fall on roads approved under PMGSY-III…I shall be grateful for your kind intervention to consider these bridges as part of the ongoing works of PMGSY-III and allow the execution of these works," added the letter. Before this, Punjab secretary of public works department Ravi Bhagat wrote to the Centre on July 21, pointing out that of the total 339 sanctioned road works under PMGSY-III, 202 road works stood completed, 68 road works were in progress and would be completed by March 31, 2026. "There are 59 works to be executed using FDR technology. The tenders for these works are in progress and these works are likely to commence in Aug/Sept 2025. " The letter added, "In addition to the FDR project, another project comprising four roads and 35 bridges was sanctioned by the Centre on March 31, 2025, for which the tendering process is in progress. Reconstruction of these bridges on roads is of utmost necessity as otherwise these locations will become accident-prone/black spots." "Under these circumstances, wherein 59 road works with FDR technology, four road works, and 35 bridges are on the verge of commencement, dropping these works at this stage would cause hue and cry among the general public of the state as the condition of the roads is very poor. In addition to these, some of the roads fall in the border areas of Amritsar, Pathankot, Gurdaspur, and Tarn Taran and would cause discontentment among the MPs, who have put in great efforts for the inclusion of these projects for their respective constituencies," said Bhagat. On July 11, the Union ministry of rural development said that while the timeline for the completion of PMGSY-III had been extended up to March 31, 2026, works which have not been tendered and works which have not started on the ground will be dropped. The state govt has requested that the bridges be considered as ongoing work and that all these pending projects, especially in the border districts, be allowed to be executed under the PMGSY-III scheme to ensure complete and functional rural connectivity. Stay updated with the latest local news from your city on Times of India (TOI). Check upcoming bank holidays , public holidays , and current gold rates and silver prices in your area. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Happy Independence Day wishes , messages , and quotes !
