A contractor has locked the newly constructed building of the Industrial Training Institute (ITI) at Sakri village in Baijnath subdivision of Kangra district. The reason is that the Himachal Pradesh Government has not paid around Rs 3 crore in dues to the contractor.
New ITI building completed but locked over payment dispute
The ITI building was built at an estimated cost of Rs 4.5 crore and was completed almost a year ago. However, the contractor has not handed over the possession of the modern campus to the Technical Education Department. According to The Tribune India, Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu had inaugurated the new ITI building in March 2024. But the contractor allegedly locked the building again after the inauguration and refused to hand over its possession, citing the non-payment of pending bills.
Students forced to continue in old premises
Because of this dispute, students are facing the consequences. They are forced to continue attending classes in a building owned by Sanatan Dharam Sabha College in Baijnath town. This old arrangement is not ideal for the students, who were expecting to move into the new, modern campus.
Our Take: Government must resolve payment issues quickly
This situation is unfair to the students. They have been waiting for a new facility that was completed almost a year ago. While the contractor has a legitimate grievance about unpaid dues, locking a public building is not a solution. In our view, the Himachal Pradesh government needs to prioritize clearing these dues so that the building can be handed over. Students should not be caught in the middle of a financial dispute between the government and a contractor. The government must act fast to resolve this and ensure the new ITI building serves its intended purpose.