NH project runs into royal roadblock in Rajasthan

And, among those whose interest may be hurt is the CM herself.

Sources in the State Government and the Ministry of Surface Transport say the main roadblock is Raje’s ancestral palace-cum-luxury hotel in Dholpur, which will be bypassed by the highway. But the Chief Minister says it’s a ‘‘canard’’ and accuses the NHAI of being mixed up with the local land mafia.

Since the existing highway passes through the congested markets of Dholpur, the NHAI had written to the State Government in May 2004 seeking its sanction for constructing a 13-km bypass on the outskirts of the city.

‘‘The sanction is a mere formality. Other states have given it without any delays,’’ NHAI’s project director Atul Kumar told The Sunday Express.

But Rajasthan has asked the NHAI to forget the bypass. ‘‘We have not given the approval because the people of Dholpur want the corridor to pass through the city. If the bypass is constructed, their interests would be hurt,’’ Raje told The Sunday Express.

In the last week of December, Raje and her family unrolled plans to convert the historical palace of Dholpur into a luxury hotel. Bookings are already open through its website (www.dholpurpalace.com). The family is said to be in touch with a prominent hotel chain to take up the management of the hotel. ‘‘The palace is in the middle of the city and the existing highway runs parallel to it for more than 2 km. With the construction of the new highway, it would lose its vantage position,’’ sources said.

The NHAI has even tried to offer several concessions to get the sanction. ‘‘We have offered them a 4-lane bridge across the Chambal to replace the existing structure, which is in a bad shape,’’ NHAI sources said.

It also asked the local administration to hold a public hearing so that the concerns of the people could be addressed.

On December 6, the NHAI thought it had its chance when the Dholpur administration applied for permission to erect the statue of Raje’s father-in-law and former ruler Udai Bhan Singh, at a crossing on the existing highway.

Ten days later, the NHAI wrote back, saying it would permit the statue provided ‘‘the Government allows the construction of the bypass.’’ But the State Government refused to bite the bait and deferred the plans to put up the statue.

As a result, the highway, part of the dream project of former prime minister Atal Behari Vajpayee, is now stuck. ‘‘We need 60 metres of clear space for the highway, which is possible only if we construct a new road,’’ NHAI officials said. The project would get delayed by five years if we do not get the sanction, officials said. ‘‘We have no alternative plan. It will take another 2-3 years to conceive a fresh project if this one does not take off,’’ NHAI officials said.

Raje, however, said her hotel business has nothing to do with the project. ‘‘It is a bundle of lies and a canard floated by the NHAI people,’’ Raje said in her reply to a questionnaire sent by this newspaper.

‘‘How would the hotel suffer even if the bypass is constructed? Anybody who wants to be our guest would come to the hotel even if he has to take the new road,’’ Raje argued.

Raje alleged the NHAI officials have some involvement with the land mafia. ‘‘They want to mae some money by constructing the new highway,’’ Raje said, adding that she would take up the matter with the Ministry of Surface Transport.