Minister questions delay in Panipat-Jalandhar road project

Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Manish Tewari on August 1 questioned the inordinate and unexplained delay in completion of the six-laning project of the Panipat-Jalandhar national highway, which is the main cause of tragic accidents leading to many deaths. In a statement issued here, Tewari said most of the accidents along this stretch were taking place primarily because of incomplete roads.

Referring to the recent Sirhind bus tragedy, the Minister expressed shock and grief. While the fall of the bus into the Bhakra canal was a major accident, a number of accidents take place every day along the 300-km stretch, leading to deaths of scores of people which usually do not get noticed, the Minister alleged, assuring that he would take up the matter with the union surface transport minister.

Tewari said the construction company which had got the contract for the six-laning project needed to be asked why it had missed so many deadlines. He said the project was originally scheduled to be completed in 2011, but it was still far from finished.