Bombay High Court Constitutes Committee To Resolve 'Precarious' Road Conditions In Nagpur City

The Nagpur bench of the Bombay High Court recently criticised the civic body and other concerned authorities in the city for their 'mismanagement and unplanned execution of road work' which has ruined the condition of the roads.

A division bench of Justices Nitin Sambre and Abhay Mantri noted that even the recently constructed roads have developed potholes, which is majorly because of the failure of the authorities to properly supervise the road work execution.

“The present condition of the roads in the city of Nagpur is precarious as can be experienced by the commuters who regularly use the same. One of the major factors is mismanagement and unplanned execution of the road work. Roads, particularly Cement Roads which were constructed in the recent past appear to have developed pot-holes, the alignment of such roads is improper, etc. resulting into not only logging of water but also giving bumpy rides. Failure of the public authorities in supervising the execution perhaps is one of the major causes for the road accidents in the city of Nagpur,” the judges observed in the order passed on July 24.

Further, the bench took into account the “substantial rise” in the vehicles plying on the roads, be it two wheeler or four wheeler, private and/or commercial and also the shortage of parking spaces.

“At times, the offenses of road rage are registered over the fights between the vehicle riders for parking or while negotiating their way through traffic and narrow paths,” the judges underscored,

Against this backdrop, the bench deemed it appropriate to constitute the Committee headed by the Commissioner of Police, Nagpur as its Chairman.

“The Additional Commissioner, Nagpur Municipal Corporation, the Deputy Commissioner of Police (Traffic), Nagpur, the Superintending Engineer (HQ) of the Nagpur Improvement Trust and the senior-most technical Officer from the Office of the Nagpur Metro Rail Development Authority (NMRDA) shall be the ex-officio members of the Committee,” the bench ordered.

This Committee has been ordered to hold a meeting before August 1 and make recommendations on the following issues:

• Whether the present manpower in the Traffic Police Department is sufficient to cater to the need of regulating the traffic particularly having regard to the number of vehicles which are plying on the roads of Nagpur city as well as in the rural parts.
• If such manpower is not sufficient, the additional number of manpower required to regulate the traffic so that this Court can call the response of the Government for creation of additional posts.
• The Committees to be constituted at the concerned Police Station levels so as to have proper coordination between the contractors, who are executing the work of improvement to the roads, and the personnel from the Nagpur Municipal Corporation or the concerned Planning Authority, the modalities to be observed in the matter of management of traffic by coordination of the stake- holders, etc.;
• Whether the present signal system is adequate and effective enough to deal with the traffic load and if not the recommendations for the same;
• The issue about the deputation of the traffic volunteers by the Contractors or the Agencies, who are executing the work for the improvement of the roads, who are rendering their assistance in the management of traffic with the traffic cops;
• The time bound programme to be undertaken not only for fixing proper alignment of the roads by re-visiting the spots and getting inputs from the traffic personnel who are manning the field area, for example the left turn towards Institute of Science from Sitabuldi just below the Metro Rail Station where the riders are facing difficulty in navigating;
• The mechanism and the steps taken in the matter of maintaining the roads in good motorable condition in all seasons;
• Any other issue which the Commissioner of Police, Nagpur feels necessary for the purpose of dealing with the ancillary issues relating to aforesaid.

The matter will be next heard on August 30.

The bench was hearing a suo motu criminal public interest litigation seeking directions to the police and local authorities in Nagpur to take action against the violators, who are responsible for the offenses relating to unsafe and bad roads etc.

Appearance:

 Advocate RJ Mirza appeared as the Amicus Curiae.

Additional Government Pleader DP Thakare appeared for the Nagpur Police.

Advocate SM Puranik represented the Nagpur Municipal Corporation.

Advocate RP Joshi appeared for Intervenors.

Case Details: (Suo Motu) Court on its own motion vs Commissioner of Police (CRPIL/1/2020)

Click here to Read/Download Order.