The state Public Works Department (PWD) has clarified that it has taken possession of Block A of the newly constructed Industrial Training Institute (ITI) building at Baijnath in Kangra district. This comes after the department released a partial pending payment to the contractor, an official spokesperson said on Tuesday.
PWD secures Block A after partial payment to contractor
According to The Tribune, the spokesperson said that the contractor handed over the possession of Block A to the PWD after receiving the part payment. However, Block B was still in his possession, as around Rs 3 crore payment was still outstanding.
Contractor locks Block B in protest over pending dues
The contractor had recently locked Block B in protest against the delay in the release of the pending dues, bringing the payment dispute into the spotlight. Although Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu had inaugurated Block A in 2024, the institute had not been able to fully operate due to the ongoing dispute.
"The contractor handed over the possession of Block A to the PWD after receiving the part payment. However, Block B was still in his possession, as around Rs 3 crore payment was still outstanding." — The Tribune
Our Take: Payment disputes stall public infrastructure
This situation highlights a recurring problem in government infrastructure projects — payment delays to contractors. While the PWD has managed to secure Block A, the fact that Block B remains locked means the ITI cannot function at full capacity. In our view, the state government needs to resolve the pending dues quickly so that the institute can serve students as intended. The inauguration of Block A by the Chief Minister in 2024 was a positive step, but without full possession of the building, the benefits remain incomplete. Clear payment timelines and accountability mechanisms could prevent such disputes in future projects.