When Union Minister Nitin Gadkari admitted in July that consultancy firms in India were producing poor Detailed Project Reports (DPRs), he pulled the lid off a crisis that has long plagued Jammu & Kashmir’s infrastructure. His words were not a revelation to citizens here, but an overdue acknowledgement of why our tunnels collapse, highways cave in, and livelihoods perish under preventable losses.
A DPR is supposed to be the bedrock of any major project – integrating technical, financial, geological and risk assessments. In practice, they have become mere paperwork, riddled with shortcuts and omissions. The 16-day closure of NH-44, which inflicted a staggering ₹1,000 crore loss on apple farmers, illustrates how badly flawed DPRs cripple the economy.
Experts point to systemic rot. Former DG Tourism Saleem Beg blames a bureaucratic culture where no one takes responsibility. Engineer Iftikhar Drabu highlights the government’s obsession with awarding consultancy contracts to the lowest bidder, even when competent firms could save billions in the long run. US-based planner Fayaz Khan goes further, alleging fraud, kickbacks and deliberate data manipulation in DPR preparation. Environmentalist Mian Javed Hussain traces the damage to diluted forest safeguards and neglect of ecological norms, contrasting today’s practices with the meticulous work once done by the BRO.
The pattern is unmistakable: weak consultants, flawed procurement, lack of geological surveys, bureaucratic indifference, and a rush to cut ribbons. Together, they produce glossy reports that collapse in execution, leaving citizens to bear the costs.
Mr Gadkari’s candour should be a turning point. Accountability must be built into both consultancy firms and approving authorities. Selecting consultants solely on cost is suicidal in a fragile Himalayan landscape. Independent peer reviews, stringent geological studies, and binding environmental safeguards must be made non-negotiable.
J&K cannot afford another cycle of broken highways, rotting fruit and wasted billions. Whether Gadkari’s admission sparks reform or becomes another forgotten soundbite will decide if DPRs continue as the weakest link in our infrastructure – or finally evolve into blueprints worthy of the people’s trust.
