Company behind Silkyara Tunnel construction donated ₹55 crore via Electoral Bonds to BJP

In November 2023, a significant accident occurred during the construction of the Silkyara-Barkot tunnel in Uttarakhand's Uttarkashi. A part of the tunnel collapsed, trapping 41 workers underneath. After an extensive rescue operation lasting over 400 hours, all trapped workers were safely evacuated by November 28.

Company's Electoral Bond donation to BJP

Data from the Election Commission revealed that Navayuga Engineering Company Ltd (NEC), based in Hyderabad and responsible for constructing the tunnel, purchased electoral bonds worth ₹55 crore. This entire sum was donated to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Electoral bonds are a form of donation to political parties, offering anonymity to donors, but recent scrutiny by the Supreme Court has pushed for transparency in disclosing donor-party links.

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NEC, a subsidiary of the Navayuga Group, specializes in engineering and core infrastructure projects. They were contracted to build the Silkyara-Barkot tunnel, a crucial part of the Char Dham Yatra All Weather Road project aimed at enhancing connectivity to four holy pilgrimage sites. The 4.5-kilometer tunnel, divided into two interconnected corridors, encountered delays in construction, with its completion date pushed beyond the original deadline.

Electoral Bond Scheme and transparency

The electoral bond scheme was introduced as a means of transparent political funding, providing an alternative to cash donations to political parties. Under this scheme, only banks are aware of the identity of donors, while political parties encash the bonds through designated bank accounts. However, the Supreme Court raised concerns about the lack of transparency and the potential violation of constitutional rights, leading to increased scrutiny and calls for reform.

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In summary, the incident at the Silkyara-Barkot tunnel highlighted not only the challenges in construction but also raised questions about political funding transparency through electoral bonds, particularly regarding donations made by companies involved in major infrastructure projects.