Avinash Azad
Despite intervention from the Ministry of Defence (MoD) following the tragic loss of Army and Indian Air Force personnel in terrorist ambushes, uncertainty continues to hang over the completion of the vital 53-kilometre Rajouri-Thanamandi-Surankote road. Sub-contracted to a new firm after the original contractor allegedly abandoned the project midway, questions around quality, delays, and accountability are now at the centre of a growing controversy.
Local legislators have raised strong concerns over the state of the project, which is being executed by the Border Roads Organisation (BRO). “The nation suffered immensely when our security personnel were martyred in ambushes on this very route. The MoD had intervened, and a part of the remaining work was sub-contracted to another firm for better quality and timely completion,” said multiple MLAs from the region.
“However, what has come to light is that the original contractor abandoned the project after completing only around 50 percent work on paper. Later, only around 30 percent of the remaining scope was handed to the new firm. The question now is — who will complete the rest of the project, and when?”
“The authorities are not only risking the lives of our soldiers but are also misleading the Government of India,” alleged local representatives, calling for urgent investigation and course correction.
MLA Thanamandi, Muzaffar Iqbal Khan, said the situation on the ground is grim: “This is turning into an unending road project. The blacktopping has disappeared, retaining and boundary walls have collapsed. Whenever I visit Saz near Government High School, a small culvert stands as a symbol of official apathy. I have seen the same labourer guarding that spot for the past two years with no progress.”
He added, “This issue was even raised by Member of Parliament Mian Altaf in the Lok Sabha, but nothing has changed on the ground. We are now planning to meet Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, and I am preparing to file a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) to trace where the hundreds of crores meant for this road have gone.”
The BRO is now under intense scrutiny for its management of the project, with serious allegations of mismanagement, and substandard execution. The project was originally awarded in October 2020 to DCIPL at a cost of ₹284.21 crore, against an advertised estimate of ₹330.10 crore. However, the firm reportedly completed only half the work before abandoning the site.
What remains today are crumbling retaining walls, incomplete civil structures, and the total absence of bridges — all vital components of this strategically important route. According to sources, DCIPL received over ₹45 crore as mobilisation advance and another 6.5% as retention money. Yet, no significant progress was made, and no accountability has been fixed so far.
In June 2024, the BRO reportedly re-awarded a portion of the balance work — worth ₹86 crore — to a Jammu-based firm. However, local leaders allege that this does not cover the entire remaining scope, further fuelling concerns that the project may once again be left incomplete.
“After the killings of our Army and Air Force personnel in a terrorist ambush, we met the Defence Minister and demanded urgent action,” said MLA Surankote, Choudhary Aslam. “The contract was partially reassigned, and while the new firm’s performance is somewhat better with local oversight, the previous contractor must be held accountable for massive financial and technical fraud.”
The Rajouri-Thanamandi-Surankote road is critical for defence movement across the Pir Panjal range and has witnessed multiple terrorist ambushes in recent years — making its timely and robust completion a national security imperative.
As of now, a large portion of the work remains untouched, and key questions remain unanswered: Who will complete the remaining work? Will BRO fix responsibility and ensure timely completion, or will the cycle of sub-contracting and abandonment continue? In the wake of soldier sacrifices and ministerial intervention, the people of Rajouri and Poonch are demanding more than paperwork — they want answers and immediate action. An official response from the BRO is awaited. A detailed questionnaire has been sent to the office of the Chief Engineer, Project Sampark, Jammu. This report will be updated upon receipt of a reply.
