Pinjore–Baddi–Nalagarh NH: MP Kashyap accuses Himachal govt of derailing devp

Accusing the Himachal government for delays in completion of the Pinjore–Baddi–Nalagarh National Highway project, the minister accused that government was derailing the issue

Former BJP state president and MP Suresh Kashyap on Thursday criticised the Congress-led Himachal Pradesh government over “delays” in completion of the Pinjore–Baddi–Nalagarh National Highway project and accused it of derailing it.

The state government has awarded compensation for land acquisition and also received praise from Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, said Cong’s Naresh Chauhan. (File)

Kashyap said the facts presented by the Union ministry of road transport and highways have completely exposed the state government’s failure, making it clear that the project did not stall on its own, but was derailed due to the state’s inability to deliver even basic requirements like land.

The Centre shared this information with Kashyap in reply to a question he submitted about the project during the recent session.

“The contractor didn’t leave the project—the state government pushed him out by failing to provide land and clearances on time,” Kashyap said.

“National Highways Authority of India had no option but to foreclose its contract with Patel Infrastructure, after repeated bottlenecks created by the state machinery made execution impossible,” he further claimed.

“If a government cannot even provide land for a national highway, what development can it deliver?” he questioned.

In contrast, he praised the central government for stepping in decisively: “While the state government created hurdles, the Centre is cleaning up the damage—fresh tenders initiated and maintenance agencies deployed to keep the road functional.”

Responding to the criticism, Naresh Chauhan, principal media adviser to chief minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, said that the BJP is making baseless accusations. “The state government has awarded compensation for land acquisition and also received praise from Union Minister Nitin Gadkari. The contractor leaving the work has nothing to do with land acquisition and the state’s role was to provide money for land acquisition, which we have done.”