ASSEMBLY POLL 2024: Pending projects a major poll issue in Ambala City, Cantt

Tribune News Service

Ambala, August 25

Pending and delayed projects in Ambala City and Ambala Cantonment are turning out to be a major poll issue for the opposition parties in the Assembly elections.

Projects delayed due To ‘corrupt’ practices

The people of Ambala have been waiting for various projects to be completed for the past several years. The projects have been hanging fire due to corrupt practices. The BJP government has failed to get the projects completed in time and this has increased the cost of projects. — Rohit Jain, Congress leader

While the city constituency is being represented by Minister of State for Transport Aseem Goel, the Ambala Cantonment constituency is being represented by former Home Minister Anil Vij.

The opposition party leaders during their public meetings raise the issue of delayed projects, including Mini-Secretariat in Ambala City, Navrang Rai pond, Mahavir park, upgrade of Civil Hospital, veterinary college and hospital, bank square, science museum, multi-level parking, Bal Bhawan, war heroes memorial stadium, Shaheed and blame corrupt practices behind the projects hanging fire.

Congress leader Rohit Jain, who is eying the party ticket from Ambala City, said, “The people of Ambala have been waiting for various projects, including the Mini-Secretariat, veterinary college and hospital and Bal Bhawan, to be completed for the past several years. The projects have been hanging fire due to corrupt practices. The BJP government has failed to get the projects completed in time and this has increased the cost of projects. The government claims that crores of rupees have been spent in Ambala City but things at the ground level have not changed yet.”

Similarly, Himmat Singh, who is also seeking the Congress ticket from the city, said “The budget of all projects have been revised repeatedly but still the projects are incomplete. We have been raising the issue with the public and making them aware of the poor functioning of the government and also making them aware how the public money is being wasted by not completing the projects on time. The Congress will get investigation done and take action against the people behind the delayed project after forming the government.”

Chitra Sarwara, who is eying the Congress ticket from Ambala Cantonment, said, “All major projects, including the war heroes memorial stadium, Shaheed Smarak, bank square, laying of sewerage and drainage system, homeopathy college, and night street market have missed their deadlines and the budgets have increased. A delay in projects is a separate issue, but the allegations of corruption in the projects is a serious matter because public money is being wasted. The accountability of the people responsible for the projects getting delayed must be fixed and strict action should be taken against them.

Similarly, Vivek Chaudhary, state spokesman Jannayak Janta Party, said, “Projects, including the entry gate at Kalka Chowk, Hisar road flyover, women’s college and Navrang Rai pond are lying incomplete. The only reason behind the projects being pending despite the extension of deadlines and the revised budgets is corruption. Since the construction work has come to a standstill, the structures are getting damaged. We have been raising the matter with the public and the people of Ambala will make the right decision in the Assembly election. We will also demand that an investigation be ordered to find out how the budgets were revised repeatedly and are still incomplete.”