Allahabad HC Expresses Concern Over Traffic Congestion In Lucknow [Read Judgment]

Allahabad High Court recently expressed serious concern over traffic congestion in Lucknow, directing the State Government to immediately deploy adequate police personnel and install traffic signal systems at various crossings to ease traffic congestion.

A Bench comprising Justice A.P. Sahi and Justice Vivek Chaudhary further directed the Government to constitute a committee of Secretaries of Departments concerned to chalk out a plan to decongest the traffic in every corner of the city. This panel, which was directed to be constituted over seven days, would formulate a plan in a week and implement the same in six weeks. The authorities have been directed to place a status report before it on 27 July.

The Bench was hearing a PIL by the name of Oudh Bar Association, which was suo motu registered by the Court. During the hearing, the Court expressed dissatisfaction over the measures taken by the National Highway Authority of India, the State Government, the civic body, the Lucknow Development Authority, UP Road Transport Corporation and the PWD to ease traffic problems in the city.

“Having gone through the affidavits we are not satisfied that any substantial progress has been made in the matter inasmuch as there does not appear to be complete coordination between the various departments of the State Government in order to rectify the deficiencies that continue to add to the existing traffic problem in the city of Lucknow,” it observed.

The Bench, thereafter, directed the State and its respective authorities to take up the matter area-wise, warning them of consequences if requisite steps are not taken. It observed, “In the event of any failure on the part of the concerned authorities to comply with these directions, it will be presumed that the Court is being compelled to take action against the authorities on account of their failure on their part to implement the obligations that are to be discharged for dealing with the over-increasing problem in the city of Lucknow.”