The Chhattisgarh High Court disposed of a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed against the inaction and lethargic approach of the respondents in the construction and widening of National Highway 130-A. The said National Highway was being developed under Bharat Mala Project, a Central Government Scheme cleared by the Central Government in 2017.
Upon notice, the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) i.e. the respondent No.6 has filed a reply. In its return, NHAI brought to the notice of the Court that the work order has since been awarded to a private limited company on 25.03.2022 and the said firm has also started work. The scheduled completion of the project is 24.03.2024.
NHAI counsel Dhiraj Wankhede further submitted that substantial progress has also been made and in all probability, the work shall be completed as per schedule.
The Division Bench of Chief Justice Arup Kumar Goswami and Justice P. Sam Koshy noted that on the previous date of hearing, the counsel for the petitioner himself had stated 60% of the work had already been completed.
In view of the subsequent developments and the reply submitted by the NHAI, the High Court is of the considered opinion that ends of justice would be met if the present Public Interest Litigation is disposed of at this juncture providing that NHAI shall make all endeavours in ensuring the work is completed within the stipulated period as per the work order.
“The right of the petitioner stands reserved to approach the Court in the event of any exigency that arises in between,” the Court observed while disposing of the petition.