The Orissa High Court has issued a firm directive to the Cuttack Municipal Corporation (CMC), demanding greater transparency and accountability regarding the city's deteriorating road network and the financial details of minor repair works.
Court's Directives on Road Condition and Expenditure
A division bench comprising Justices S K Sahoo and V Narasingh handed down the order during a hearing on Thursday concerning the poor state of Cuttack's roads. The court was responding to a request from the CMC for additional time to comply with its earlier instructions.
The bench has now ordered the civic body to submit two separate affidavits. The first must provide a comprehensive status report on the condition of roads across the entire city, including the progress of any ongoing repairs. The second affidavit is required to offer a detailed explanation of expenditures on road works costing Rs 2 lakh or lower.
Details from the Comprehensive Road Survey
The court accepted and placed on record an abstract of a comprehensive road survey submitted by the CMC. This survey was a collaborative effort conducted by junior engineers, assistant engineers, and members of a designated advocates' committee.
The extensive survey covered all 59 wards under the CMC's jurisdiction. Its findings revealed a stark picture: out of a total road network spanning 550.26 km within the CMC limits, approximately 137.33 km has been officially identified as damaged and in need of repair.
CMC officials informed the court that the process of preparing financial estimates for repairing these damaged stretches is currently underway. They elaborated that this estimation process involves a multi-tiered approval system.
- First, the commissioner must grant administrative sanction.
- Next, the works standing committee scrutinizes the proposal.
- Finally, the full CMC council must grant its approval.
Only after successfully navigating these three stages can the tender process for the actual repair work commence. The CMC stated that it would require approximately one month to complete these formalities.
The bench has directed the civic body to file an affidavit detailing the progress made by January 5, 2026, and has scheduled the next hearing for January 8, 2026.
Court's Displeasure Over Delayed Affidavit
In a separate but related matter, the court expressed its clear displeasure with the CMC's failure to file an affidavit that was originally sought on October 9. This affidavit was specifically regarding road works valued at Rs 2 lakh or less.
The earlier order had required the CMC to submit ward-wise data on the number of such small-value works undertaken between January 1 and September 30. Crucially, the corporation was also mandated to clarify whether multiple small-value works had been executed on the same road. If such was the case, the CMC was required to explain the rationale behind splitting the works into smaller components.
Since the affidavit was not filed within the stipulated time, the bench granted a final extension. It has now directed the CMC to submit the required details by December 10 and has posted this specific matter for hearing on December 18.
NHAI Reports Completion of Major Repairs
In a positive development, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) informed the court that major repair work on damaged stretches near Balikuda and between Madhupatana and OMP Square has been largely completed.
In an affidavit submitted by NHAI project director Suraj Kumar Singh, it was stated that post-monsoon rehabilitation work—including milling, strengthening of the base, and laying new bituminous layers—has been executed. After examining photographic evidence submitted by the NHAI, the court noted its compliance and stated that no further orders were necessary at this stage regarding the national highway stretches.
