The Nagpur bench of the Bombay High Court has taken a decisive step to address the long-standing delays plaguing the crucial Nagpur-Katol four-laning project. On Friday, the court ordered an immediate ground-level inspection, expressing deep concern over the worsening travel conditions and significant safety risks for daily commuters.
Court-Appointed Committee to Assess Ground Reality
Frustrated by the lack of progress despite repeated assurances from authorities, a division bench comprising Justices Anil Kilor and Rajnish Vyas appointed a three-member committee of lawyers. This panel, headed by advocate Ashwin Deshpande, has been tasked with conducting an independent, physical assessment of the actual road conditions.
The bench directed the committee to inspect the stretch between Nagpur and Katol on December 20 and submit a detailed, time-bound report by December 22. The court emphasized that this first-hand assessment was necessary as official promises had failed to translate into any visible improvement for the public.
PILs Highlight Public Hardship and Regulatory Deadlock
The directives were issued during the hearing of two Public Interest Litigations (PILs). One was filed by Katol residents Dinesh Sheshrao Thakre and Sumit Ajay Babuta, focusing specifically on the stalled highway project. The other PIL, filed by advocate Arun Patil, highlighted the overall poor condition of highways across the Vidarbha region.
The petitioners informed the court that construction on the busy corridor had remained completely stalled for nearly six months. This halt has caused severe daily hardships, including:
- Chronic traffic congestion
- Heightened risk of accidents due to poor road conditions
- General commuter distress
They argued that despite previous judicial interventions and stern observations from the court, the highway conditions continued to be unsafe.
Root Cause: Forest Clearance Delays and Contractual Impasse
The background of the project reveals a complex regulatory tangle. The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) undertook the project to upgrade the road to a four-lane highway. Contracts were awarded in September 2021 to Agarwal Global Infratech Limited and Joint Stock Industrial Company Association.
However, progress hit a major roadblock due to delays in securing mandatory forest land clearance. The petitioners claimed that the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests delayed granting permission for the diversion of forest land needed for the expansion. Crucially, the clearance process was completed only after the contractual period had expired, leaving the project in a state of regulatory and contractual deadlock. This has resulted in all construction and development work being halted for the past five to six months.
The bench noted its earlier serious cognizance of travellers' hardships and its sharp reprimand of the contractor. Observing no tangible improvement, the court opted for this direct assessment mechanism. In a significant move, the judges also slammed the NHAI and directed it to bear the entire expenditure for the panel's inspection tour. The court has scheduled the next hearing for December 23.
