HC directs NHAI to complete NH-55 work within 2 mths | Bhubaneswar News
Cuttack: Orissa high court has set a two-month timeline for the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) to complete four-laning of the NH-55 between Cuttack and Angul.
The project spans 112 km and is part of a broader plan to improve road connectivity in the state. The project was awarded during 2017-18 with a completion period of two and a half years.
The court gave the direction while hearing a PIL pertaining to rehabilitation and upgrade of the national highway between Cuttack and Angul on Wednesday. Manoranjan Sahoo, a social activist, filed the petition in 2022.
The two-judge bench of Chief Justice Harish Tandon and Justice Arindam Sinha said, “Several orders were passed from time to time in the instant PIL in pursuit of ensuring the timely completion of the aforesaid project. It appears that the NHAI has assured thecCourt that they would complete the entire stretch within a specified time but because of the unforeseen obstacles the adherence to the time limit could not be ensured.”
The bench said the NHAI has filed an affidavit dated March 18 stating the entire stretch of NH-55 is expected to be completed by May. “In view of the assurances that have been given before this court, the NHAI is directed to complete the work within the time as expressed in the affidavit,” the bench ordered and listed the matter on June 23.
The NHAI affidavit stated, “That, it will be significant to state here that despite all the hurdles NHAI is committed to complete the construction of the project at the earliest possible date. The project is expected to be completed by May 2025.”
The project spans 112 km and is part of a broader plan to improve road connectivity in the state. The project was awarded during 2017-18 with a completion period of two and a half years.
The court gave the direction while hearing a PIL pertaining to rehabilitation and upgrade of the national highway between Cuttack and Angul on Wednesday. Manoranjan Sahoo, a social activist, filed the petition in 2022.
The two-judge bench of Chief Justice Harish Tandon and Justice Arindam Sinha said, “Several orders were passed from time to time in the instant PIL in pursuit of ensuring the timely completion of the aforesaid project. It appears that the NHAI has assured thecCourt that they would complete the entire stretch within a specified time but because of the unforeseen obstacles the adherence to the time limit could not be ensured.”
The bench said the NHAI has filed an affidavit dated March 18 stating the entire stretch of NH-55 is expected to be completed by May. “In view of the assurances that have been given before this court, the NHAI is directed to complete the work within the time as expressed in the affidavit,” the bench ordered and listed the matter on June 23.
The NHAI affidavit stated, “That, it will be significant to state here that despite all the hurdles NHAI is committed to complete the construction of the project at the earliest possible date. The project is expected to be completed by May 2025.”
