The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has strongly criticized the Congress-led Himachal Pradesh government over the ongoing duct construction project on Shimla’s Mall Road, alleging that the initiative is an unnecessary burden on public funds.
State BJP spokesperson Sandipani Bhardwaj termed the project a “clear example of wastage of taxpayers’ money,” claiming that the estimated cost of the duct project has already crossed ₹250 crore and may increase further in the coming years.
She questioned the government’s decision to launch such a large-scale project without conducting a proper assessment of its actual necessity or presenting a clear roadmap outlining benefits for the public.
According to Bhardwaj, the project is unlikely to improve traffic conditions or provide any direct benefit to common citizens, raising concerns over the justification for spending such a massive budget.
The BJP leader emphasized that major infrastructure projects should be preceded by a benefit-cost analysis, traffic study, and public impact assessment, alleging that these essential parameters were ignored before initiating the Mall Road duct construction.
She further stated that ongoing construction work has caused significant inconvenience in and around Mall Road for an extended period, negatively affecting local businesses, tourism activities, and daily life of residents. The disruption, she said, has resulted in loss of time and resources for the public.
Demanding transparency, Bhardwaj urged the state government to release a white paper detailing the project’s cost, necessity, and expected outcomes. She added that the BJP will continue to raise the issue and hold the Congress government accountable for the alleged misuse of public funds.
