UP missive threatens to disrupt 18 NHAI projects

In a move that could jeopardise at least 18 new highway projects to be awarded in Uttar Pradesh (UP), the state government has written to the road transport ministry saying it would not provide any support.

Support from the states is crucial for acquisition of land and protection to workers on the contracts awarded by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI).

A senior official in the central government confirmed this development. “At a time when all states, irrespective of their political affiliation, are supporting us, UP has written a letter not giving support to the road projects in the state.”

He added: “Non-Congress states like Bihar, Kerala, West Bengal, Uttarakhand and Madhya Pradesh are providing us full support.”

Every project is a tripartite agreement among a state, the Centre and the road developer. Initially, the states showed reluctance to signing any such support agreement, but after Roads Transport and Highways Minister Kamal Nath hinted at blocking the share of central road funds to them, they fell in line.

Of the 28 states and seven Union territories, 20 signed the agreement, six are in the process of signing it and the others have not yet responded.

Interestingly, UP has also signed it. Also, the state is building alternative roads, which include the Ganga and the Yamuna expressways. The Ganga expressway runs from Greater Noida to Ballia, while the Yamuna expressway connects Greater Noida to Agra.

The Muzaffarnagar to Haridwar stretch, part of the new projects in UP and Uttarakhand, runs parallel to the Ganga expressway and officials in the state have objected to it.

At a recent infrastructure summit, organised by the Planning Commission, officials of the UP government raised this issue with the Prime Minister.