Jaipur: Political "differences" between Congress leaders from the state and the Centre during the previous Union government has caused the delay in completion of the six-lane Jaipur-Delhi highway, a Rajasthan minister has alleged.
Rajasthan PWD Minister Yunus Khan today told the House that the condition of the highway "has become a `nasoor` (major problem) for entire country and people who travel on this highway".
"A tug-of-war between the former Congress chief minister and Union Road Transport minister and their political differences caused delay in completion of the six lane Jaipur-Delhi highway," Khan said.
Without naming anyone, Khan apparently made a reference to former CMAshok Gehlot and the then Union Road Transport Minister, CP Joshi.
Replying to Congress MLA Rajendra Yadav who raised this issue during the Zero Hour, Khan, without naming anyone said, former CM and Union Minister wanted to take credit for the completion of the six-lane highway, which is the main reason for its delay in last tenure, Khan alleged.
A report on the highway`s worsening situation would be sent to the Union government.
On the matter of a bypass bridge at Kotputali which was stuck due to cracks, the PWD Minister said Rajasthan would send a factual report to the Centre after a high-level delegation`s visit to the NH-8 in next one week.
Despite the Congress having the government at the Centre and in the state, the land acquisition work was not completed by the former Gehlot government, he claimed.
Though there was enough land that could be acquired by the previous government, but it was not executed, Khan further alleged.
Due to delay in civil works, its cost was estimated at Rs 1800 cr but now it was increased to Rs 3,000 cr, PWD Minister said.
Opposition Congress members strongly made resentment on the minister`s statement saying it was not right.
Congress` chief whip Govind Singh Dotasar countered the allegation saying, "Every one knows the differences between Rajasthan CM and the PM. This is probably the reason Raje cabinet could not be expanded".
On another issue raised during the Zero Hour, Rajasthan Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Minister, G C Kataria assured the House the state government would conduct an investigation on?hotels set up in last four to five years on National Highway-14, and any illegal activity if found would be dealt with seriously.
He further assured that there was enough and competent patrolling on the national highways and four equipped vehicles were on their jobs round the clock.
The investigation report to be done would be placed in the respective police stations on the highway.
