Congress MLA Condemns AAP Government Over Massive Road Tender
Congress MLA Sukhpal Singh Khaira has strongly criticized the Aam Aadmi Party-led government in Punjab. He accuses the administration of engaging in what he describes as an unprecedented and shocking loot of state resources. The controversy centers on a road maintenance project approved by the Greater Mohali Area Development Authority.
Details of the Controversial Project
Khaira pointed to a news report highlighting the project details. The GMADA invited bids to hand over maintenance, resurfacing, and beautification work for 83 kilometers of roads in Mohali to private players. The contract spans ten years with a staggering cost of Rs 10 crore per kilometer. This pushes the total project cost to nearly Rs 1,000 crore.
The legislator from Bholath stated this marks the first time in Punjab's history that routine road maintenance has been outsourced at such rates. He called the charges obscene and unjustifiable. Khaira emphasized that charging Rs 10 crore per kilometer for maintaining existing roads amounts to daylight robbery.
Allegations of Favoritism and Exclusion
Khaira made serious allegations about the tender process. He claimed the conditions were deliberately tailor-made to suit a particular company from Delhi. He suggested this was done at the behest of AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal. The MLA stated the tender completely excluded 383 experienced road contractors from Punjab, leaving them in the lurch.
He asserted the tender reeks of favoritism, nepotism, and political patronage. According to Khaira, Punjab's money is being siphoned off to outside companies while local contractors and businesses are deliberately sidelined.
Questioning the Project's Premise
The Congress MLA further questioned the very basis of the project. He stated Mohali roads are not in any such dilapidated condition that warrants a decade-long private concession involving thousands of crores of public money. Khaira highlighted that Punjab is facing a severe financial crisis with people struggling for basic services.
He asked how the government can justify such extravagant spending on so-called comprehensive upgrades of roads that are already functional. Khaira warned that such long-term concession agreements would weaken public oversight and reduce accountability. He said they would lock future governments into inflated contracts, benefiting private concessionaires at the cost of taxpayers.
Demands and Warnings from the Congress
On behalf of the Indian National Congress, Khaira made several demands. He called for the immediate scrapping of the Rs 1,000 crore GMADA tender. He insisted any genuine maintenance requirement, if needed, should be executed transparently through Punjab-based contractors. Khaira also demanded a probe into the role of GMADA officials and political interference in framing the tender conditions.
He added Punjab cannot be treated as an ATM for Delhi. Khaira urged the government to stop looting Punjab's resources and betraying its people. The Congress party plans to raise this issue inside and outside the Vidhan Sabha. They vow not to allow this alleged scam to go unchecked.
