Union Minister Nitin Gadkari has issued a stern warning to the Punjab government, threatening to cancel or terminate eight highway projects in the state if immediate corrective measures are not taken to address alleged attacks on engineers and contractors. In a letter to Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, Gadkari expressed deep concern over the safety of NHAI officials and staff working on the Delhi-Katra Expressway projects.
Gadkari highlighted two specific incidents that prompted his warning. The first involved a brutal assault on an engineer working for a contractor in Jalandhar district. While an FIR has been registered, Gadkari demanded stronger action against the perpetrators. The second incident, in Ludhiana district, involved miscreants attacking the project camp of the Delhi-Katra Expressway contractor and threatening to burn both the camp and its staff alive. Despite written requests from NHAI officials, an FIR has yet to be filed, and the assailants remain unapprehended.
Gadkari, in his letter dated August 9, attached photos of the assault and emphasized the severity of the situation. He stated that if the situation does not improve, NHAI will have no choice but to cancel or terminate the eight affected projects, totaling 293 km and costing ₹ 14,288 crore. These projects are mainly greenfield corridors, and canceling even a single package could render the entire corridor useless.
Gadkari also pointed out that ongoing issues with land acquisition and law and order have led several contractors to request contract terminations and file claims against NHAI. The minister revealed that NHAI has already terminated three projects, totaling ₹ 3,263 crore, due to land availability challenges.
Referring to a recent review of NH projects on July 15, which he chaired, Gadkari emphasized that he was assured that pending issues related to land acquisition and law and order would be addressed on a priority basis. He urged the state government to take immediate action, including filing FIRs and taking strong measures against the perpetrators, to prevent such incidents in the future and restore confidence among NHAI officials and staff.
NHAI is responsible for developing greenfield and brownfield national highway corridors, including the Delhi-Katra Expressway in Punjab. The safety and security of their personnel are paramount, and Gadkari’s strong stance reflects the seriousness of the situation and the need for immediate action from the Punjab government.
