Come clear on Jab-Nagpur road, HC to NHAI, state

December 7, 2013

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Manjari Mishra,TNN |

JABALPUR: A division bench of MP high court (MPHC) has issued notices to National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) and the state government seeking explanation over the sorry state of NH 7. The petitioner, Citizen ConsumerForum, said journey between Jabalpur and Nagpur is proving a nightmare for commuters due to patch of almost nonexistent highway. Poor connectivity is proving highly risky for patients to Nagpur, the major health destination in the region.

The petitioner pointed out the highway between Jabalpur and Nagpur, known as a lifeline for many, everyday registers a good traffic of seriously ailing referred to Nagpur for better medical facilities. However, the poor road condition is causing a great deal of inconvenience in this segment. It takes nearly 10 hours to cover 275-km distance against five hours it took about a year ago, the petitioner claimed.

Due to delay and discomfort, the petitioner claimed commuters are now being forced to go via Chhindwara and Narsighpur. A particular patch – Khawasa border – between Jabalpur and Lakkhanadon is particularly bad with rubble and potholes, passing for a road, and journey over it is a big torture, the petitioner pointed out. “One has to take a diversion and go via Narsinghpur to avoid the patch has to log an extra 70 km. A big number of commuters going to Nagpur are in urgent need of medical attention. And the delay at times cost them lives.” the petitioner observed.

The petition highlighted callous attitude of the NHAI authorities and how they preferred to look the other way despite mounting complaints on this front.

The bench, presided over by Chief Justice A M Khanvilkar and Justice KK Lahoti, also ordered all eight PILs which deal with complaints of similar nature and are pending before different benches would henceforth be clubbed together to be heard by a designated bench. Next hearing in the case, the court directed, would take place on December 9.

Source-http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com