The Congress on Thursday accused the Centre of corruption and poor execution in infrastructure projects, citing the condition of the Delhi-Dehradun Expressway and alleging that public assets across the country are deteriorating under the Narendra Modi government.
In a post on social media platform X, the Congress claimed that the Delhi-Dehradun Expressway, inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on April 14 this year, has already developed massive potholes within two months of its opening. The party alleged that the early damage to the expressway points to irregularities and misuse of public funds during its construction.
“Narendra Modi inaugurated the Delhi-Dehradun Expressway on April 14, 2026. But just two months later, massive potholes appeared on this expressway, which was built at a cost of Rs 12,000 crore. This shows that rampant corruption and embezzlement of funds took place in the construction of this expressway,” the Congress said.
The opposition party further alleged that the issue is not limited to a single project and claimed that infrastructure failures are being reported from various parts of the country. “This is not the first such case; across the country, whether it's bridges or roads, highways or water tanks, railway stations or airport roofs—infrastructure is collapsing everywhere,” the party said.
Targeting the Centre, the Congress alleged that the government’s handling of infrastructure projects has compromised quality and public safety. “All in all, the matter is clear: the Modi government is fatal for the country and the people,” the party added.
The Delhi-Dehradun Economic Corridor is one of the Centre's flagship infrastructure projects. The 213-km, six-lane access-controlled expressway was built at a cost of more than Rs 12,000 crore and passes through Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand. The project was designed to reduce travel time between Delhi and Dehradun and boost trade, logistics and economic activity in the region.
During its inauguration in April, Prime Minister Modi had described the corridor as a transformative project that would bring major economic benefits to the region by lowering travel costs and opening new opportunities for industry and commerce.
The Centre and the agencies involved in the construction of the expressway have not yet issued a detailed response to the Congress' allegations. The controversy, however, has reignited the political debate over the quality and maintenance of large-scale infrastructure projects in the country.
