Most NHAI projects on track: CM to Gadkari

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, August 13

Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has maintained that barring a few exceptions, most NHAI projects in the state are on track. He also raised the issue of land compensation being not commensurate with the existing market price.

In a demi official letter to Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari, Mann has said: “So far as land acquisition and related issues are concerned, you must appreciate that farmers of the state are deeply attached to their land, it being their main source of livelihood. Further, land prices in Punjab are on the higher side. Our farmers are reluctant to part with their land, if they feel the compensation is not adequate. There are a number of cases in which the farmers are satisfied with the awards given by the arbitrators and are willing to hand over the possession of their land to the NHAI at the awarded rates,” he has written.

The CM said the state government has been proactively supporting the NHAI in land acquisition and other related matters. “Barring a few exceptions, most other projects are on track,” he has said.

The letter is written in response to the Centre raising the issue of inadvertent delays in the construction of highways in Punjab, and threatening to scrap some projects.

Regarding the two incidents of alleged violence against NHAI officials, he has said that both incidents stemmed from causes attributable to the concessionaire/ contractor. A detailed report on the two incidents prepared by Special DGP (Law and Order) has also been enclosed with the letter. The CM has said that the local police have been directed to deploy patrolling staff in the area to maintain law and order.