Portions Of NH-6 So Damaged That It Would Be Impossible For Vehicles To Pass But Repair Works By NHAI "Rather Slow": Meghalaya HC Fixes Timeline

The Meghalaya High Court on Wednesday directed the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) to repair or reconstruct the very badly damaged portion of NH-6 stretching about 5 km between Jowai and Ratacherra within two months.

The said direction was passed by the division bench of Chief Justice I. P. Mukerji and Justice W. Diengdoh while hearing a PIL, the subject matter of which is a stretch of 102.255 km of national highway (NH-6) between Jowai and Ratacherra. The bench noted that the said highway is a kind of lifeline for Meghalaya, Tripura and Mizoram.

The Court further perused the report submitted by the Amicus Curiae in the matter which showed some portion of the highway NH-6 in a severely damaged condition, so much so that it would be impossible for vehicles to pass.

The NHAI had also filed a report in which it was showed that extensive road construction, repair and maintenance work has been undertaken by it on NH-6.

The Court noted that the damaged portion as pointed by the Amicus Curiae's report is about 45 km out of 102.55 km and the very badly damaged portion covers about 5 km.

It observed that according to the report of the NHAI, 2 km of the stretch of the highway has been strengthened by undertaking bituminous work, 7 km of drains have been constructed and “reinforcement binding for 5 km of drain construction” is in progress.

The Court remarked:

“We have no doubt that the NHAI has every good intention to carry out our order. However, we are constrained to remark that the pace at which the work is progressing is rather slow.”

Therefore, the Court directed that the very badly damaged portion of the section of the highway stretching about 5 km as stated above should be repaired or reconstructed by NHAI within two months of communication of this order.

“Within two weeks of communication of this order, emergency measures have to be taken by NHAI so that till the regular work is carried out, the said part of the highway is reasonably pliable by vehicles. The rest of the 45 km should be completed way before the onset of the next monsoon, within five months from date. The authority should ensure that work done is of such quality that it is not easily damaged by rain and other weather conditions in future,” the Court further said.

The PIL is listed again on December 11.

Case Title: Kynjaimon Amse (since deceased) v. National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) & Ors.

Case No.: PIL No. 11 of 2022

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