Kharge Alleges Financial Malpractice in ‘Bharatmala Pariyojana’, Dwarka Expressway Fraud Highlighted
In a direct accusation, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Monday pointed fingers at the Modi government, alleging corruption in various infrastructure projects and asserting that it is leading the nation down a perilous path.
Referring to a report from the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India on the ‘Bharatmala Pariyojana’ highway projects, Kharge called for introspection from Prime Minister Narendra Modi before highlighting corruption allegations against his political rivals. “BJP’s trail of corruption and financial malpractice is steering the nation towards a highway to hell,” Kharge expressed on the platform X, formerly known as Twitter, citing the CAG’s findings.
In a stinging critique against the Modi government, he emphasized that the CAG’s report revealed alarming shortcomings in the ‘Bharatmala Pariyojana’, including “numerous inadequacies, disregard for outcome parameters, blatant deviation from tender bidding norms, and severe financial mismanagement.” Kharge singled out the Dwarka Expressway as a glaring example of the “fraud” within the scheme.
According to Kharge, the CAG’s findings unveiled that the “initial estimated cost of the project was Rs 528.8 crore, but it spiraled astonishingly to Rs 7,287.2 crore — an astounding increase of 1,278 percent.”
He further noted, “The approval for the Dwarka Expressway was granted without a comprehensive project report.
The envisaged toll rates are projected to obstruct capital cost recovery and burden commuters unfairly.” Drawing from the report, the Congress leader revealed that the lane configurations of the Dwarka Expressway were decided without thorough assessment of neighboring competing infrastructure developments.
Moreover, the construction was carried out with suboptimal specifications.
Addressing Prime Minister Modi directly, Kharge asserted, “Before you raise allegations of corruption against your adversaries, you ought to introspect because the evidence suggests you oversee it yourself. Come 2024, India will hold your government accountable.”
BJP’s Corruption & Loot Taking India Towards a “Highway to Hell”: Kharge’s Scathing Critique Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge launched a scathing attack on the Modi government through a series of tweets, accusing it of corruption and fiscal mismanagement in the ‘Bharatmala Pariyojana’ highway projects.
In his online tirade, Kharge highlighted various aspects of the alleged corruption and emphasized the case of the Dwarka Expressway as a stark example of the malpractice. Kharge’s tweets pointedly stated, “BJP’s Corruption & Loot is taking the nation on a Highway to Hell!”
He highlighted the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) report’s findings on the ‘Bharatmala Pariyojana’, underscoring the following alarming aspects: Innumerable deficiencies
Non-compliance with outcome parameters
Clear violation of tender bidding process
Massive funding mismanagement
Kharge cited the shocking case of the Dwarka Expressway within this scheme, disclosing:
The project’s initial cost estimation was ₹528.8 crore, which surged to ₹7287.2 crore – a staggering 1278% increase.
The project was appraised and approved without a detailed project report.
The planned toll rates could lead to difficulties in recovering the project’s capital cost, placing an undue financial burden on commuters.
The project’s lane configurations were determined without analyzing competing infrastructure developments nearby.
Suboptimal specifications were used during construction.
Directly addressing Prime Minister Modi, Kharge asserted, “You need to look within, before you harp about Corruption against your opponents, because you are overseeing it yourself!! In 2024, INDIA will make your Govt accountable.”
