The Nagpur Bench of the High Court has strongly criticised the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) for delays in completing a crucial 48-kilometre stretch of the Nagpur-Katol four-lane road project. Sanctioned in September 2021, the project—spanning from the 13-kilometre to the 62-kilometre mark on National Highway 357J—was awarded to joint contractors Agarwal Global Infratech Pvt. Ltd. and Joint Stock Company Industry Association.
Due to prolonged delays and the resulting inconvenience to the public, a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) was filed by Dinesh Thakre, former chairman and current director of APMC Katol, alongside other petitioners. During the latest hearing, the court instructed the NHAI Project Director to submit a detailed timeline for the project’s completion. Advocate Mahesh Dhatrak appeared for the petitioners, while Chief Government Pleader Deven Chauhan represented the state.
The court further questioned why criminal charges should not be filed against NHAI officials and the contractor firms for their alleged negligence. This comes after previous directions where the court asked the state to furnish data on accidents in Kalmeshwar and Katol tehsils—data that was submitted during Thursday’s hearing.
Despite being awarded in March 2021 with a completion deadline of October 2023, the project remains unfinished, causing disruption for commuters over the past five years. The court expressed serious displeasure, noting that citizens had to resort to legal action because of the Union Ministry of Transport and NHAI’s inaction.
Interim orders had earlier mandated the installation of reflective boards and diversion signage for commuter safety, but the court observed that these measures remain only partially implemented. The matter remains under judicial scrutiny, with the court demanding clear accountability and immediate remedial steps.
