NHAI told to correct faulty Koradi Rd work

Nagpur: Central Information Commissioner (CIC) Yashovardhan Azad has asked National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) to correct lapses in construction of highway between Mankapur and Koradi on NH-47. The directions were issued recently while deciding the second appeal filed by city-based RTI activist Avinash Prabhune against NHAI project director, Nagpur, and general manager, Delhi.CIC confirmed that a similar situation persisted across the country and the issue should not be considered only for Nagpur.
On September 27, 2014, Prabhune drew attention of NHAI project director on many lapses on the four-laned road between Mankapur and Koradi posing threat to travellers. The lapses included irregular cuts, absence of road dividers and service roads, cattle menace, and encroachments. For example, the divider cuts road at Modern School junction and near a biscuit factory at Panjra. There is also a narrow service road near wireless monitoring station posing threat to road users.
Unauthorized cuts to side wall of NHAI near aluminium unit and near Panjra pose a danger to travellers. Besides, cuts have been provided at very short distances. There is also wrong side movement of traffic on main highway, wireless station and near Koradi power station gate due to faulty median cuts and absent service road.
As NHAI did not take any note of Prabhune’s representation, he filed an application under RTI in October and December 2014 with NHAI, Delhi, and Nagpur, seeking to know the policy on providing cuts on highways. NHAI did not give satisfactory replies forcing Prabhune to move CIC in May 2015. CIC decided the matter recently and appreciated the applicant for raising this matter of public interest which affects citizens and motorists using this highway.
In its order, CIC said irregularities referred to by the appellant had been admitted by the respondent-NHAI. NHAI has also submitted that FIRs were lodged against locals for violation and attributed the problem to poor law and order situation prevailing in the area.
“The question, however, is that danger persists to ordinary road users coming from irregular cuts, absence of road dividers, cattle menace, absence of service roads and encroachments. Though these lapses need to be taken care of by the state government, NHAI also should be taking up this matter regularly with the administration,” observed CIC and directed NHAI chairman to take suitable action for amelioration of the situation in larger public interest.
However, as NHAI has failed to take corrective steps, Prabhune submitted an application before CIC on January 7 for initiating contempt against NHAI. “Instead of improving thesituation, an unauthorized cut at one spot, which was earlier 20 feet, has now been extended to 50 feet. This is nothing but contempt of CIC order,” said Prabhune. He is also in process of filing a PIL in the high court.