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Demands of politicians helped only to delay Highway Project

Interventions made by the political leadership in the original scope of work of Jaipur-Gurgaon stretch have been one of the major impediments in timely completion of work. To extract mileage, local and national, leaders exerted their pressure to change the structures and added some more. 

A report submitted by the NHAI to ministry of roadways says former MP from Jaipur (rural) Lalchand Kataria made numerous demands to include additional flyovers. Katara, who was also minister for state in UPA-II asked authorities on March, 2011 to change pedestrian under pass (PUP) to vehicle under pass (VUP) at Manoharpura. 

Similar demand was made for Paota urban area, Sangtedha and Jaipur bypass where Kataria wanted to have flyover in place of PUP. At Ghasipura he asked the then minister for roadways to include new VUP, originally not in scope of widening of stretch to contact Kataria but was not reachable. Another former minister, Jitendra Singh submitted a proposal for PUP to ministry at Janaksinghpura. He also demanded a flyover in Mohladiya area. The government of Rajasthan was also not behind in shelling out its list of demands. Though failed to acquire required land to widen the road, the state government wanted to relocate flyovers from Bajri Mani and Gandhi Path, both falling in Jaipur bypass area. It also asked for extending a flyover in Behror. 

Sources claim that these demands slowed down the work. The developer functions as per the detailed project report prepared (DPR) before conceiving any major work. "Any deviation from DPR leads to additional cost and delay in completion. The banks also lend money on the basis of DPR and viability of project and not on any construction made beyond that," said a senior official related to project. 

As per the report, some of the demands were conceded while in most it was rejected. Earlier also the project became a focal point of political fight between former chief minister Ashok Gehlot and the then Union minister for highways CP Joshi. Both engaged in war of words holding each other responsible for the delay. 

Source-On Request