HC directs Centre, J'khand govt to file progress report on NH

Ranchi, Feb 4 (UNI) The Jharkhand High Court today directed the Centre and state government to file progress report in connection with the construction of National Highways (NH) by February 19.

A division bench comprising Chief Justice Muthuswamy Karpagyavinayagam and Justice D G R Patnaik passed the order while hearing a Public Interest Litigation filed by one H D Sharan and others.

During the course of hearing the Centre informed the Court that it had sanctioned the revised tender estimate on January 30 and had given approval to the construction of the National Highways in the state.

Meanwhile, the state government informed the Court that work had been allotted to the contractor after receiving formal approval of the Centre.

Earlier, the Court had directed the Centre to grant approval to Jharkhand within a fortnight to the tender related to construction of National Highways.

The Court had also directed to constitute a two-men committee, consisting of Chief Engineer and the Regional Officer of National Highways, for effective execution of road construction of the NHs in the state.

The length of NHs in the state was around 1,650 km and around only 200 km had been so far repaired.

Mr Pandey Neeraj Rai appearing on behalf of the petitioner pointed out to the court that condition of the NHs in the state was miserable.

UNI XC-AM KK SP HS1847