Nurpur: Work on Rs 2.8 crore complex halted as funds run out

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Rajiv Mahajan

Nurpur, February 8

A three-storey shopping-cum-parking project in the Chogan locality adjoining the Pathankot-Mandi National Highway-154 has been awaiting resumption of work as the contractor seeks release of funds.

The tender for the construction of the complex of the state Sports and Youth Affairs department had been awarded by the HP Public Works Department (Nurpur division) to its contractor, Suresh Gupta, on May 2, 2022. As per the conditions laid down by the PWD, the project had to be completed in one year.

Inquiries reveal that, so far, only Rs 96 lakh had been released to the contractor. However, after the completion of about 80 per cent of the work, the PWD owed one crore to the contractor. Therefore, the ongoing work of the project was spotted in June 2023.

The previous Jairam government had proposed the multi-storey project adjoining the indoor stadium. Its construction had started in 2022. As per the design, this project is set to have a parking lot on the ground floor and 40 shops each on the first and second floor.

As the project is on a national highway, the shopping complex has immense commercial potential. A large number of kiosks running illegally on the Pathankot-Mandi National Highway were planned to be shifted to these shops.

The Sports and Youth Affairs department had planned to invest Rs 2.84 crore for the complex, planning to lease the shops with minimum lease money of Rs 5 lakh per shop, besides a monthly rent of Rs 3,000. The construction costs were to be recovered from the lease money to be taken in advance from the lessees.

Former Sports and Youth Affairs Minister Rakesh Pathania alleged that the Sukhu government had stalled all the ongoing developmental activities in the area because they had no vision, no development plan and no leadership in the state. The contractor said he would be unable to complete work until his dues are cleared.