Modi Government Revives Lapsed Funds for Punjab’s Border Infrastructure

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Punjab president Sunil Jakhar on Friday stated that the Government of India has restored a special grant meant for border districts, which had earlier lapsed due to the alleged failure of the Punjab government to utilize the funds on time. According to Jakhar, Punjab will receive ₹814 crore under this grant. A significant portion of the funds is earmarked for infrastructure development in border districts, including the construction of 64 roads with a total length of 628.48 kilometres and 38 new bridges. He expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for restoring the grant, stating that the decision was taken in the larger interest of the state despite what he described as the slow functioning of the Punjab government. Jakhar further said that the central grant had earlier lapsed because the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)-led Punjab government failed to utilize the funds within the stipulated timeframe. He added that the grant was supposed to be used by last year, with directions from the Centre to initiate the work before March 31, 2025. Criticising the state government, the BJP leader alleged that it has failed to make timely use of central funds while simultaneously engaging in political criticism of the Centre. He also claimed that the Centre has been consistently supporting Punjab across sectors, including providing substantial assistance for irrigation projects. Jakhar further alleged that works funded by the Centre, such as canal development and underground pipeline installations, are being presented by the state leadership as their own achievements. He added that neither Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann nor any minister has acknowledged or thanked the Centre for restoring the grant. He also claimed that there were attempts to withhold this information from the public so that people would not become aware that ₹814 crore had been reallocated to Punjab despite the earlier lapse.