The Gauhati High Court directed the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited to look into the grievance raised by the petitioner in three months in connection with the 4 lane construction of National Highway No.37.
The Division Bench of Chief Justice Rashmin Manharbhai Chhaya and Justice Soumitra Saikia disposed of a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed for the following relief;
“In the premises aforesaid, the humble petitioners pray that Your Lordship may be pleased to call for the record of the case, issue a Rule calling upon the respondents to show cause as to why a Writ of Mandamus and/or any other appropriate writ should not be issued in directing the respondent no.1, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 to revise the detailed Project Report in connection with the 4 lane construction of NationalHighway No.37 from Rangagara to Kaliabor Tiniali and 4 lane construction ofNational Highway No.37A from Kaliabor Tiniali to Dolabari .
It has also asked to incorporate the provision of Essential Utility Services such as service road, drainage system,pedestrian underpass etc. in the Detailed Project Report, so revised, as well as in ongoing construction of said national highways i.e. from Judicial Court Complex,Kaliabor to Kaliabor Tiniali and Kaliabor Tiniali to Uluwani Chariali and on hearing the cause(s) as may be shown, to make the Rule absolute and to pass such further or other order(s) as Your Lordship may deem fit and proper.”
The Bench noted that effort has been made by the Government of Assam, which is evident from the minutes of the meeting held on 06.03.2019. The demand has already been reiterated and the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, Government of India is also made aware about it.
On 22.07.2021, the Deputy General Manager (Project) of NationalHighways & Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd has also drawn attention of the authorities for laning of NH-37A from Km. 0.000 (Koliabor Tiniali road junction) to Km.17.300 (Dolabari road junction).
The Government of Assam through the Additional Deputy Commissioner in-Charge Of Kaliabor Sub-Division also reiterated the said stand of the government.
Due to non-action on the part of the National Highway authority,water logging has become a perennial problem in the area in question, observed the Bench.