Himachal Pradesh News
Himachal Pradesh High Court Questions NHAI Over Delay in ₹469 Crore Pinjore-Baddi Four-Laning Project
The National Highways Authority of India has come under sharp criticism from the High Court of Himachal Pradesh over major delays in the ambitious Pinjore-Baddi four-laning highway project. The court raised serious concerns about how the project was awarded despite incomplete land acquisition, calling the issue a significant administrative failure.
The National Highways Authority of India has come under sharp criticism from the High Court of Himachal Pradesh over major delays in the ambitious Pinjore-Baddi four-laning highway project. The court raised serious concerns about how the project was awarded despite incomplete land acquisition, calling the issue a significant administrative failure.
A division bench comprising Chief Justice Gurmeet Singh Sandhawalia and Justice Bipin Chander Negi questioned the functioning of NHAI during the hearing related to the four-laning of the Majrihatta-Nalagarh Chowk stretch on the Pinjore-Baddi highway.
Court Raises Questions Over Delayed Execution
According to court observations, the Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the 31.195-kilometre highway stretch was prepared on September 27, 2017. Later, NHAI awarded the Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) contract worth ₹469 crore to Patel Infrastructure Limited on September 30, 2021.
The project was originally scheduled for completion by September 30, 2024. However, the court noted that uninterrupted Right of Way (RoW) was not made available to the contractor, severely impacting construction work and delaying execution for years.
The bench observed that major portions of land were handed over only in March 2025 — almost three years after the contract officially began.
Contractor Exits Project After Settlement
Due to prolonged delays and lack of complete land access, the contractor eventually sought foreclosure of the contract. The request was later accepted through a settlement agreement signed on October 9, 2025.
The High Court expressed dissatisfaction with the status report submitted by NHAI, stating that the authority failed to provide several crucial details despite earlier directions issued by the court.
The bench specifically sought clarity on:
- Current status of the project
- Contractors assigned for pending work
- Exact reasons behind the delay
- Amount paid to the previous contractor
- Details of fresh tenders issued
- Expected deadline for project completion
The court also questioned how foreclosure of such a massive public infrastructure contract was permitted without transparent disclosure of financial details.
“Land Should Be Acquired Before Awarding Contracts”
During the hearing, the High Court made strong remarks regarding the planning and execution process of infrastructure projects. The bench observed that projects of this scale should ideally be awarded only after land acquisition and possession formalities are fully completed.
The court noted that NHAI’s explanation regarding non-availability of land did not “find favour” with the bench.
Seeking additional time, counsel appearing for NHAI requested permission to submit a detailed affidavit addressing all pending concerns.
Next Hearing on June 30
The High Court has now directed NHAI to place complete details regarding maintenance contracts and fresh tenders issued on October 30, 2025, before the next hearing scheduled for June 30.
The court has also ordered concerned NHAI officials to remain personally present during the next hearing, signaling stricter judicial monitoring of the delayed highway project.
