The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) is facing a critical decision regarding eight major highway projects in Punjab following safety concerns and incidents of violence against personnel and contractors involved in the construction of the Delhi-Amritsar-Katra Expressway. Road Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari emphasized the gravity of the situation in a letter to Punjab Chief Minister Bhawant Mann, highlighting the need for an improvement in the law and order situation to prevent the cancellation of projects valued at approximately Rs 14,288 crore.
The urgency of the situation was underscored by reports of attacks on engineers and contractors in Jalandhar and threats issued in Ludhiana against project staff and facilities. Gadkari stressed the importance of these greenfield corridors, warning that even the cancellation of one project could jeopardize the effectiveness of the entire stretch. He also pointed out serious safety concerns for NHAI officials, contractors, and their teams, as well as ongoing challenges with land acquisition, backed by photographic evidence of recent assaults.
Despite assurances given by stakeholders in a review meeting on July 15, where commitments were made to prioritize issues related to land acquisition and law enforcement, Gadkari expressed disappointment over the lack of progress and the worsening situation. Due to unresolved land acquisition matters and deteriorating law and order conditions, several concessionaires have sought to terminate their contracts, leading to claims against the NHAI. The NHAI has already terminated three projects in Punjab due to challenges related to the availability of land, further complicating the status of ongoing highway developments in the region.