India, Aug. 15 -- Ahead of the assembly polls in November 2024, the state public works department (PWD) gave administrative approval for roads worth Rs.64,000 crore, against its annual budgetary provision of Rs. Rs.15,000 crore for state and district roads, sources in the department told Hindustan Times. The sharp spike in approvals has not only resulted in the outstanding dues to contractors swelling to Rs.13,527 crore, it has also stopped the department from making fresh budgetary allocations for any new road works for at least the next three years, the sources mentioned.

"The average value of road projects approved ahead of the assembly polls was Rs.350 crore per district, which is otherwise around Rs.50 crore per district per year," ...