Closes PIL On Widening Of Road From Hazratbal To Dargah

Srinagar: The High Court of J&K and Ladakh has closed a Public Interest Litigation while expressing hope that the government will remove bottlenecks in widening of road from Dalgate to Hazratbal Srinagar speedily.
A division bench of Justice Sanjeev Kumar and Justice Puneet Gupta also expressed satisfaction with the steps taken by the authorities to complete the construction and widening of the road.
The PIL was filed in 2018 by an NGO, Jammu and Kashmir Peoples Forum, seeking direction to the authorities to complete the construction and widening of the road from Dalgate to Hazratbal, Srinagar.
The NGO had sought directions to the authorities to remove all illegal constructions from Dalgate to Hazratbal, Srinagar, and accelerate the process of acquisition of structures coming in the alignment of the road.
The court passed several directions and in compliance to them, the authorities filed status reports from time to time, indicating the steps taken to complete the subject road.
In the latest status report, the authorities pointed out the difficulties, which they are facing in carrying out the project. They submitted that stretch from Dalgate to Kohnakhan has already been developed to its 4-lane status by way of construction of Bridge to Dalgate. Also, they said, the stretch from Rainawari Chowk to Zindshah Masjid has been widened to its 4 lane status. Similarly, the stretch from Ashai Bagh Bridge to Nigeen Club and from Hazratbal to Habak Crossing has also been widened to its 4 lane status.
However they submitted that the stretch from Kohna to Rainawari, where the process of acquisition is under process, is yet to be taken up for construction and widening. Out of 206 structures, they submitted, 179 structures have already been settled by the High Level Committee and removed by the R&B, Department.
They said that there are still 23 structures to be acquired on the road stretch, which include 13 cases of compulsory acquisition for which the process has to be set in motion by the Collectorate of land acquisition. They submitted that 11 structures are creating bottlenecks at Khayam, Khanyar and Rainawari Chowk.
“Having heard counsel for the parties and perused the material on record, including the latest status report filed by the respondents (authorities), we are of the considered opinion that there is no wilful neglect or inaction on the part of the respondents (authorities) to construct the road in question,” the Division Bench observed, adding, “We are satisfied with the steps taken by the respondents (authorities) to complete the construction/widening of the subject road. We, however, hope and trust that the bottlenecks, which are pointed out by the respondents (authorities) are removed at the earliest and the remaining stretch of road from Kohna to Rainawari, is also completed with requisite speed.”
While closing PIL, the court left it open to NGO to approach it again if there is inordinate delay on the part of the authorities to complete the construction and widening of the road.

KR Desk