SHILLONG: The High Court of Meghalaya, while ordering to register a suo motu PIL on the condition of highways in the state, secured an assurance from the authorities that Umsning bypass will be handed over for public transport before the end of January.
The court took up the initiative while hearing the pending PIL concerning the two-lane road at Nongstoin-Mawthabah sector.
The division bench comprising Chief Justice Dinesh Maheshwari and Justice VP Vaish observed that during the hearing on the Mawthabah road, several aspects concerning the condition of other highways came up for consideration. One of the concerns raised by the counsels for the parties was regarding the non-motorable condition of the part of NH-6 from Shillong to Guwahati, particularly known as ‘Umsning Town Road’.
Regarding the matter, Assistant Solicitor General A. Paul has taken instructions from the officers of the National Highways Authority of India working in Meghalaya.
Rajeev Malhotra, the concerned Project Director, NHAI, Shillong, was present in the court.
The court then wanted to register a PIL to address the conditions of highways in Meghalaya.
In the PIL, Union of India through the Ministry of Road Transport, Highways and Shipping will be respondent No. 1, the National Highways Authority of India through its Project Director in Shillong will be respondent No. 2 and the State of Meghalaya through the chief secretary will join as respondent No. 3.
While Paul appeared for respondents 1 and 2, government advocate S. Sen Gupta appeared for respondent 3.
Counsel Suresh Panthi was appointed as amicus curiae to assist the court in the matter.
The court said it had been assured by the Government Advocate and Assistant Solicitor General that the questionable condition of Umsning Town Road will be immediately taken up for rectification and within three days, preliminary work will be carried out; and otherwise, the relevant portion of the highway will be completed in two months.
It was also assured that Umsning Bypass under construction would also be completed expeditiously and the National Highways Authority of India would make all efforts to hand it over for public use before the end of January 2018.
Other aspects of the matter will be considered on the next date of hearing on October 24, the order said.
