The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has commenced road widening work between Old Katol Naka and Fetri, aiming to ease the challenges faced by motorists due to the road's narrow width.
The NHAI assured the Nagpur bench of the Bombay High Court that the project would be completed by April 2025. This commitment was made during a hearing on Monday before Justices Nitin Sambre and Vrushali Joshi, with the next session scheduled for December 17.
The High Court raised concerns about the lack of tree plantations along several highways. In response, NHAI pledged to penalise contractors who failed to fulfill plantation commitments. Agreements for tree plantations along the Nagpur-Bhandara, Nagpur-Umred, and Nagpur-Katol highways were highlighted. NHAI clarified that contractors neglecting plant maintenance, resulting in plant deaths, would face fines.
The project stems from a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by lawyer Arun Patil, addressing the poor condition of roads such as the Amravati-Akola-Jalgaon and Wardha-Sindkhed Raja stretches. The court's intervention spurred NHAI to expedite repairs and widening efforts.
Since the road falls under Forest Department jurisdiction, NHAI required departmental clearance, which was granted after a court notice to the Principal Secretary of the Forest Department. Advocate Anish Kathane represented NHAI during the hearing.
(ET)
