High Court asked NHAI to maintain Highway in good motorable conditions throughout the year

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaJune 13, 2023

Asserting the highway is a crucial link to the south-eastern part of the North-East Region, the Division Bench of the High Court of Meghalaya on Tuesday directed the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) to maintained the highway in good motorable condition throughout the year.

The direction was passed by the Court during the hearing of Public Interest Litigation (PIL) no.11/2022 in matter of Kynjaimon Amse versus NHAI & ors

The Court said that Judicial notice is taken of photographs published in Shillong newspapers over the last couple of days indicating the treacherous condition of the Jowai bypass despite the repair work apparently having been completed by the State PWD (Roads).

However, Amse has carried photographs to demonstrate that the repair has not even lasted a couple of days.

“It is appreciated that bitumen is water-soluble and heavy rains may affect the road conditions, yet all this has happened before the monsoon has set in,” the Court observed.

The Court said that it can be no excuse, particularly given the heavy rains in this part of the country during the monsoon, that the roads will remain unmotorable during the rainy season.

The Court directed that repair work has to be undertaken keeping in mind the weather and climatic conditions and the extent of rainfall that the road has to endure.

The Additional Advocate General K Khan is requested to meet senior officials of the State PWD (Roads) so that the matter can be taken care of before the actual onset of monsoon, said the Court’s order.

NHAI says that some of the stretches between Jowai and Khliehriat need to be repaired, the Court observed that even beyond, the Sonapur tunnel requires some repair work.

According to NHAI, the contract is about to be issued and the work is expected to be completed by the end of July, 2023. 

The Court observed that it is better if the work had been completed prior to the heavy rains setting in. The Court asked NHAI to ensure that extra care is taken that the repair work undertaken in the midst of rains is not immediately washed away.

 The Court directed that both the NHAI and the State should report on the progress on either stretch when the matter appears next week.

The petitioner points out that landslides that have taken place several months back on the Malidor to Ratacherra stretch have not been taken care of yet.