HC directs authorities to remove bottlenecks on Dalgate-Hazratbal road

Excelsior Correspondent

SRINAGAR, Mar 20: High Court closed the Public Interest Litigation on widening of road from Dalgate to Hazratbal with a view that the steps taken by the authorities to complete the project are satisfied.
The PIL was filed in the year 2018 by an NGO seeking direction to the respondent-authorities to complete the construction and widening of the road from Dalgate to Hazratbal, Srinagar. It was also prayed that the respondents to remove all illegal constructions from Dalgate to Hazratbal, Srinagar, and accelerate the process of acquisition of structures coming in the alignment of the road.
The division bench of Justice Sanjeev Kumar and Justice Puneet Gupta opined that there is no wilful neglect or inaction on the part of the respondent-authorities to construct the road in question.
“We are satisfied with the steps taken by the respondents to complete the construction/ widening of the subject road. We, however, hope and trust that the bottlenecks, which are pointed out by the respondents in their reply affidavit are removed at the earliest and the remaining stretch of road from Kohnakhan to Rainawari, is also completed with requisite speed”, DB said.
“With the aforesaid hope, we are closing this PIL, but leaving it open to the petitioner to approach this Court again if there is inordinate delay on the part of the respondents to complete the construction/widening of the road in question”, reads the judgment.
Authorities have indicated the steps taken by them to complete the subject road. In the latest compliance report, they have clearly delineated the steps, which they have taken to complete the construction and widening of the aforesaid road. They have pointed out the difficulties, which they are facing in carrying out the project.
It is submitted by the respondent-authorities that the stretch from Dalgate to Kohnakhan has already been developed to its four lane status by way of construction of Bridge to Dalgate. The stretch from Rainawari Chowk to Zindshah Masjid has been widened to its four lane status.
Similarly, the stretch from Ashai Bagh Bridge to Nigeen Club and from Hazratbal to Habak Crossing has also been widened to its four lane status. Court however, informed that the stretch from Kohna to Rainawari, where the process of acquisition is under process, is yet to be taken up for construction/widening.
There are still 23 structures to be acquired on the road stretch, which include 13 cases of compulsory acquisition for which the process has to be set in motion by the Collectorate of land acquisition and 11 structures are creating bottlenecks at Khayam, Khanyar and Rainawari Chowk.
Court said that the bottlenecks, which are pointed out by the respondents in their reply affidavit, are removed at the earliest and the remaining stretch of road is completed at an earliest.