CUTTACK: The Orissa High Court on Thursday issued notice to the National Highways Authority of India in connection with the ongoing six-lane expansion work from Bhubaneswar through Cuttack without provisioning underpasses and crossways at major intersections. Acting on a writ petition filed by residents of the Wards 52, 53 and 54 under Cuttack Municipal Corporation covering villages under Cuttack Sadar, secretary of Pratap Nagari Village Committee and Joint Convenor of Sangram Samiti of Cuttack Sadar, Govindpur and Banki, the bench comprising Justices BP Das and I Mohanty has asked the counsel for NHAI to obtain instructions and file response by December 7. The notice has also been issued to the State Government and CMC. The petitioners had appealed to the court to direct the NHAI as well as the State for construction of underpasses at Gopalpur and Telengapentha as well as overbridge at Pratap Nagari on the crossing point of Kakatpur branch canal. Overbridge should also be constructed at the Balikuda Chhak where from Nandankanan-Banki road starts for smooth passage of all types of vehicles. Approach roads should be constructed with barricades on both sides of NH 5 from Gopalpur to Phulnakhara before commencing the work of expansion of the Highway and construction of the six-laning road. The issue of non-provisioning of passages both under the highway or over has been assuming heat with locals protesting the move of the NHAI. The Nagarik Surakhya Manch had also last month staged a dharna and demonstrations near Gopalpur over the issue.
Comments
0 comment