NHAI has initiated an important road widening work from Old Katol Naka to Fetri. It has been one of the much-needed works in order to relieve the congestion caused due to the narrow width of the road, thus reducing road safety. For a long time, it was one of the issues which faced the motorists because of the very narrow width of the road. Now, with the start of the work, NHAI has vowed to complete the work by April 2025.
NHAI ensures to complete project
The NHAI is said to have told the Nagpur bench of Bombay High Court that the widening project will complete by April, 2025, reassuring it during a recent court hearing. The case came under the hearing process of Justice Nitin Sambre and Justice Vrushali Joshi on Monday. According to reports, the court ordered the next case to be reported on December 17, the further hearing with respect to completion of the said project.
Road widening has been considered as the stepping stone in providing better infrastructures and rectifying this traffic bottleneck place. Assurance is given by the NHAI for this reason: it says it is moving its machinery for time and safety along with convenience in regards to users’ road infrastructure
Addressing Environmental Concerns
While the project is going ahead in widening roads, environmental concerns too have seen light. Bombay High Court recently took up several issues regarding lack of tree plantation on highways that are Nagpur-Bhandara, Nagpur-Umred, and Nagpur-Katol. NHAI informed the court that action will be taken against those contractors who were entrusted with these responsibilities but could not maintain the greenery around those roads.
NHAI informed the court that agreements are in place with contractors to plant and maintain trees along these highways. However, the court came to know that some of the contractors did not fulfill their commitment, and most of the plants died. For this reason, NHAI assured the court to penalize those contractors who have not fulfilled their commitments. This commitment reflects NHAI’s responsibility toward environmental sustainability while ensuring the road infrastructure improvements are made.
Legal Action and PIL on Road Condition
Road expansion and environmental factors had come under question after a public interest litigation moved before the high court by Advocate Arun Patil. Litigant pointed to an abysmal road conditions scenario, where Amravati-Akola-Jalgaon and the Wardha-Sindkhed Raja were among the most terrible road conditions. Urgent upgradation repair of many such roads has been pending here. The high court had intervened in this case.
Initially, NHAI did not take the task of improving these roads seriously, but after the mild rebuke by the court, NHAI started taking corrective measures. Not only do they repair the damaged roads but also widen some stretches due to growing traffic volumes. Involvement of High Courts has seen to it that these infrastructure bottlenecks are accorded due importance.
Land Acquisition and Forest Department Involvement
One of the major problems NHAI faced while widening the road was to get permission for the land to be used in the project. The land comes under the purview of the Forest Department, so NHAI had to seek permission before carrying out the work. NHAI had to face a delay in the initial stages while getting the necessary clearance. This all changed with a notification from the High Court to the Principal Secretary in the Forest Department, which thereby accelerated the approval process.
Given all these permissions and approvals, the NHAI project for road widening has been brought forward with their necessary upgrades by benefiting the locals and commuters coming through this road. The Coordination of NHAI, Forest department, and also High Court towards them is one way that ensured them to carry it on without even a hitch on the project.
Conclusion
One of the major developments is the road development project between Old Katol Naka and Fetri that would ease the traffic congestion on roads in the region. Commitment from NHAI to complete it by April 2025, coupled with the active role of the court in overseeing the project’s progress, speaks volumes for its completion on time efficiently. The court on environmental matters further aims at striking out a balance measure in infrastructure developments. With the efforts put up, commuters, therefore, anticipate a safer, more efficient near future road network.
Refer,
Economic Times, Link to article