Road work done sans DPR, court seeks NHAI’s reply

The HP High Court has sought a reply from the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) on an application stating that no detailed project report (DPR) has been prepared for the construction of a road qua the Solan-Kaithlighat section.

During the course of hearing, it was brought to the notice of the court that the amicus curie has filed an application alleging that no DPR has been prepared for a road qua the Solan-Kaithlighat section and yet it is being constructed and is nearing completion.

Taking serious note of the issue, Justice Tarlok Singh Chauhan and Justice Sushil Kukreja observed, “How a road without a DPR has been constructed is a serious matter. Therefore, let the NHAI file its response to this application before the next date of hearing.” The matter was listed on October 14.

During hearing, the amicus curiae also brought to the notice of the court that the alignment of the Shimla-Matour road on the Shimla-Nauni stretch has been re-designed and changed to confer illegal benefits to some person(s).

On this, the court observed that “this indeed is a serious matter” and directed the NHAI to file an affidavit to this effect on the next date of hearing. The court passed the directions on a public interest litigation on the issue of the widening of national highways to four lanes in Himachal Pradesh.