Shillong, Nov 7: Meghalaya High Court on Wednesday directed National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) to repair of a five-km dilapidated section of 102-km-long national highway 6 (NH-6) within two months.
In its order passed after hearing a PIL in this regard, the court said, “In those circumstances, we direct that the very badly damaged portion of the highway… be repaired or reconstructed by NHAI within two months of communication of this order.”
“Within two weeks of communication of this order, emergency measures have to be taken by NHAI so that till the regular work is carried out, the said part of the highway is reasonably pliable by vehicles,” the court said.
It also ordered the NHAI to complete the rest of the 45 km before onset of the next monsoon, within five months from date. The court also asked the authorities concerned to ensure quality of work so that it is not easily damaged by rain and other weather conditions in future.
Appreciating “NHAI’s good intention to carry out our order”, the high court said “However, we are constrained to remark that the pace at which the work is progressing is rather slow.” The court also mentioned that portion of the highway between Jowai and Ratacherra is a kind of lifeline for Meghalaya, Tripura and Mizoram.
Amicus curiae Suraj Panthi submitted a report and photographs showing some badly damaged portions of NH -6 where vehicles are nearly impossible to pass through.
However, the report did not mention the location of the portion.
NHAI counsel S Sengupta submitted that if this location was indicated, he could have instructed his client to take immediate suitable measures. The court requested the amicus curiae to immediately inform the NHAI about the location and approximate length of this part of the damaged highway.
Meanwhile, in its report tabled in the court, the NHAI submitted photographs showing extensive road construction, repair and maintenance work undertaken by NHAI on NH-6. The damaged portion is about 45 km of total 102 km, including a very badly damaged portion of 5 km.
The NHAI submitted that a 2-km stretch of NH-6 was strengthened by undertaking bituminous work, 7 km of drains constructed and “reinforcement binding for 5 km of drain construction” is in progress,” the court stated.
