Explore possibility of providing common service duct, HC tells CS

SHIMLA: With a view to preventing frequent digging of roads by service providers, the HP High Court directed the Chief Secretary to constitute a committee of senior officials of the state for exploring the possibility of providing common service duct, if any, on either side of road for water pipes, telephone lines and electricity lines etc.

Vijay Arora

Shimla, March 25

With a view to preventing frequent digging of roads by service providers, the HP High Court directed the Chief Secretary to constitute a committee of senior officials of the state for exploring the possibility of providing common service duct, if any, on either side of road for water pipes, telephone lines and electricity lines etc. so that roads are not dug frequently and repair, if any, is made by the authorities concerned by using service ducts.

A Division Bench comprising Justice Sanjay Karol and Justice Sandeep Sharma further directed the Chief Secretary that the committee would also look into the matter pertaining to the construction of adequate parking space at the IGMC, Hospital.

It further directed that the committee may also consider whether one big parking having capacity of approximately 1,000 vehicles can be constructed at the entrance of the Shimla city so that tourists are encouraged and persuaded to park their vehicles there and thereafter use public transport.

After perusing the affidavit filed by the authorities concerned with regard to the detail of vehicles registered with the Registering and Licensing Authority, Shimla (Urban and Rural), with effect from April 1, 2010, to October 31, 2016, it has been reported that approximately 14,000 vehicles have been registered in Shimla (rural and urban) i.e. 7,254 in urban area and 6,949 in rural area.

The court observed after seeing mindboggling figure vis-à-vis limited roads and space in Shimla town, it has no hesitation to conclude that either the authorities do not have any vision or they do not want to take any action in the matter. We are fully conscious that it is a complete domain of the authorities concerned to make arrangements for providing safe roads and parking to the residents and this court has very limited scope to interfere in the matter. But, unfortunately, it appears that the authorities concerned are either in deep slumber or either they are waiting for some unfortunate incident to occur.