Gadkari Raises Safety Concerns for Highway Projects in Punjab

Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari has expressed serious concerns regarding threats and violent incidents faced by contractors and staff of the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) in Punjab. In a letter addressed to Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on August 9, Gadkari emphasized the urgent need for action against the perpetrators, warning that the NHAI may be forced to terminate eight major projects worth Rs 14,288 crore if the law and order situation does not improve. Gadkari highlighted alarming safety issues for NHAI personnel, citing two recent violent incidents linked to the Delhi-Katra Expressway project. One incident involved the brutal assault of a contractor's engineer in Jalandhar, while another saw miscreants attacking a project camp in Ludhiana, threatening to burn it down. Despite an FIR being filed in the assault case, Gadkari noted that no significant action has been taken against the offenders, raising concerns about the lack of accountability. The minister's letter also referenced a previous meeting on July 15, where assurances were made regarding the resolution of land acquisition and law enforcement issues. However, Gadkari reported that no progress has been made, and the situation has deteriorated further. He pointed out that NHAI has already terminated three projects in Punjab, totaling 104 km and costing Rs 3,263 crore, and reiterated the need for the Chief Minister's intervention to expedite the development of highway infrastructure. In response, Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Badal criticized the Chief Minister for neglecting land acquisition for the Delhi-Amritsar-Katra Expressway, jeopardizing Punjab's development. He urged Mann to take immediate action to restore safety and governance, emphasizing the urgency of addressing the deteriorating law and order situation that has led to project cancellations.