A presentation of the recent comptroller and auditor general (CAG) report on the 'Bharatmala Pariyojana' was conducted at a meeting of parliament's Public Accounts Committee (PAC), chaired by Congressman Adhir Ranian Chowdhury, on Tuesday. This development has sparked a political dispute, with opposition parties claiming corruption in the award of the Phase I implementation of the highway project.

The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways refuted the CAG's findings, arguing that the cost of the project was exorbitant. They claimed that the CAG had not taken into account actual costs in their assessment. The presentation of the CAG report took place at the PAC meeting on Tuesday and the report itself was submitted to Parliament on 10 August.

The PAC, made up of selected MPs, is responsible for controlling the government's revenue and expenditure. Its primary function is to examine CAG reports as soon as they are presented in Parliament. However, during the meeting, opposition members expressed concern about the findings of the 'Bharatmala Pariyojana' report. It should be noted that the report will not be investigated immediately.

This development marks a major point of contention in Indian politics, as the 'Bharatmala Pariyojana' is a high-profile infrastructure project with far-reaching consequences.