Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, Dec 11: The High Court today issued notice to Regional Director NHAI and directed him to inform it about the condition and progress of road widening of National Highway from Banihal to Ramban and Nashri to Chenani.
The Division Bench of Justice Ali Mohammad Magrey and Justice D S Thakur while hearing a PIL on the condition of roads in the Valley, said the NH-44 from Banihal to Ramban and Nashri to Chenani is in dilapidated condition as such made Regional Director NHAI party to the PIL and directed the Registry to issue Court notice to the said officer as there was no appearance on behalf of the NHAI before the court.
Union Counsel Tahir Shamsi submitted before the Division Bench that the maintenance of these roads has been handed over to NHAI and in turn it has allotted the contract of these roads to RAMKI Infrastructure Pvt Ltd. However, the Counsel for RAMKI Infrastructure Pvt Ltd informed the court that it has the control of roads in City and not on Highway as such court issued notice to Regional Director stationed at Srinagar to submit his response.
Court directed the notice be issued to the said officer through the office of Principal District Judge Srinagar for effective service so as to enable him to submit the response before the court about the condition and progress of these roads on time.
Court has also sought status of roads from Border Roads Organization and Public Works Department coming into their jurisdiction.
It may be noted here that the Court has already appointed a number of Court Commissioners to oversee and supervise the conditions of roads and inform the Court about the same so that effective directions be passed to the authorities to maintain these roads in Kashmir Division.
Meantime, the CE R&B informed the court about the steps taken for maintaining the stretch of road from Tral to Sathoora road as the said road stretch was in dilapidated condition since long time.
The PIL has been filed by Civil Society Tral for road widening and repairing of dilapidated roads in South Kashmir and the court has widened the scope of the said PIL for all the roads in Kashmir Province.
Court further said, in case the conditions of other roads is not good for traffic movement, the respondents shall take all necessary steps for expediting the repairs as required for such roads.
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