Haryana’s first NCC academy to resume construction after five-year delay

After a five-year delay, the Public Works Department (PWD B&R) is set to resume work on Haryana’s first National Cadet Corps (NCC) Academy in Araipura village, Gharaunda block. The department plans to float fresh tenders for the remaining work after revising the budget from Rs 57 crore to Rs 86 crore.

The academy’s construction, launched in July 2018 by then Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, was initially scheduled for completion by February 2020. However, the project came to a halt in 2021 after the contractor abandoned the work midway. As a result, PWD terminated the tender in July 2024 and submitted a revised budget proposal to the Higher Education Department, seeking an additional Rs 29 crore.

The academy, designed to train 700 cadets at a time, aspires to become a centre of excellence, offering training on par with renowned academies in Gwalior and Nagpur.

PWD (B&R) officials said 60% of the work has been completed, but modifications in the drawing and layout plans have increased costs. The project comprises three major buildings — an administrative block, a hostel and a mess block.

A recent meeting between PWD (B&R), NCC and Higher Education officials led to suggestions that available funds be utilised first while awaiting additional financial approvals. Officials proposed issuing two separate tenders — one for work that can be completed within the existing budget and another for the remaining tasks under the revised budget estimate.

"We have submitted a revised budget to the Education Department for approval, but we are still awaiting the green light," said Rishi Sachdeva, XEN, PWD (B&R).

Ajit Singh, Joint Director, NCC, Higher Education, echoed similar views: "Since the financial year is about to end and a fresh budget will be allocated in the next academic year, we have suggested using the existing funds first. Additional funding will be released in the new fiscal year."

Gharaunda MLA and Haryana Assembly Speaker Harvinder Kalyan assured that all obstacles delaying the project have been resolved.

"We will ensure the speedy completion of the project so that cadets can start their training here at the earliest," Kalyan said.