Himachal contractors in distress due to long delays in payments from govt

“व्यापारी बचेगा, तभी प्रदेश बढ़ेगा”

S Gopal Puri
DHARAMSHALA: Contractors in Himachal Pradesh are facing increasing difficulties due to delayed payments, project backlogs and the lack of support from the state government.

They claim that government-funded projects have been held up due to the slow disbursal of payments, corruption and unstable policies, leaving thousands of contractors working on road, building and development projects in a perilous situation.

Abhishek Kumar (Bunny), a contractor, expressed his frustration saying, “If the government can’t make timely payments, then why do they continue to hire small contractors? We are being buried under the weight of loans!”

This sentiment is echoed by many in the industry who are struggling to keep their businesses afloat.
Jagjit Rai, another contractor, pointed out the disparity between Himachal Pradesh and other states. “Contractors in other states receive security and payments on time, but in Himachal, we have to fight for what is rightfully ours!” he said.

The lack of timely payments is not only impacting contractors financially but is also damaging their reputation and relationships with workers.

Saurabh Kuthiala, a contractor involved in several infrastructure projects, said, “Contractors just want the money for their hard work, but the system here is so weak that even after completing the work, we have to wait for years to get paid.”

Many contractors have also expressed concern over the slow pace of work and the mounting pressure to meet deadlines, despite the ongoing payment delays.

Abhishek Kumar, another contractor, said, “If the government continues to ignore the contractors, infrastructure projects will come to a halt and there will be a direct impact on development work.”

Contractors are now calling on the state government to address these concerns and ensure that timely payments are made to prevent further disruption in the construction and development sector.