HC notice to Centre, Odisha Govt on delay in construction of Puri NH

Cuttack, Nov 20: Orissa High Court has issued notices to the Centre and the state government asking them to file counters within two weeks on a PIL that alleged delay in completion of the Bhubaneswar-Puri national highway before Lord Jagannath’s 'Nabakalebar' ritual in July next year.

A division bench headed by Chief Justice Amitava Roy issued notices to all respondents in the PIL, including National Highway Authorities of India(NHAI) and contractors undertaking the work yesterday. Based on information obtained under RTI Act, advocate Nishikant Mishra had filed the PIL alleging that neither the agencies nor the Central and State governments were serious about early completion of the 59-km four-lane road.

Earlier in the day, based on a report furnished by NHAI the HC had vacated stay orders it had granted restraining it from acquiring certain controversial land. The NHAI report had stated that adequate compensation had been deposited with the appropriate authorities for acquisition of those pieces of land.

PTI