The petitioner, Owais Pechkar, had alleged in his 2021 public interest litigation that because there were potholes on the highway and the widening of the highway was ongoing, there were a lot of accidents.
NHAI had filed an undertaking before the High Court that it would complete the road widening and repairs within 2 years. That time limit expired in December 2020, and the Court noted that NHAI had not sought any extension from the High Court.
NHAI informed the Court that it had issued tenders and allotted the work to a contractor. Additionally, it had also issued a show cause notice to the contractor for not completing the work.
In 2022, the High Court observed that the pace for widening the highway was disappointing as it was pending since 2010. It directed NHAI to expedite the work.
The Court will hear the PIL next on August 9.
Source: Barandbench
