The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) is developing 1,500 kms of roads in Panjab. However, delay in land acquisition has proved to be a major hurdle. This has forced NHAI to terminate three national highway projects worth $395M, while the process has been initiated to scrap another four that are worth $591M. A total of 31 projects worth $5B are facing delays. After meeting with NHAI regional officer Vipnesh Sharma, MP Sanjeev Arora revealed that land acquisition is hindered by farmers' reluctance to sell, despite increased compensation as per their demands. Arora said for the Delhi-Katra Expressway project, land is not available for around 100-km long out of 400-km stretch passing through Panjab. The Delhi-Amritsar-Katra Expressway is a multi-state project with 11 of the total 18 parts criss-crossing Panjab. This delay is happening despite the Punjab and Haryana High Court (PHHC) directing the state govt. to facilitate the take over of the already acquired land on 18 Oct 2023 (SDW Vol 1 Issue 6, Story 6). NHAI Chairman, Santosh Kumar Yadav, said, ‘Despite huge capital investment, the highway corridors will not be put to effective use due to multiple missing links. The NHAI will have to face legal and financial implications.’ Now both PM Narender Modi and Road Transport and Highways Minister, Nitin Gadkari, have called for separate meetings to solve the impasse. The NHAI has also filed an application in the PHHC seeking compensation for losses incurred due to the unauthorized closure of toll plazas during the multiple Farmers Protests. The court has asked Panjab govt. to respond.
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