Order of the High Court of Orissa regarding the condition of NH-215, 09/07/2021
Order of the High Court of Orissa at Cuttack in the matter of Mitra Bhanu Mohapatra & Others Vs Secretary, Road Transport & Highways Government of India & Others dated 09/07/2021.
A Public Interest Litigation was filed drawing attention to the pathetic condition of stretches of the National Highway 215/20 to an extent of 163 kms between Panikoili (starting point) in Jajpur district to Rimuli in Keonjhar district. In this stretch there are apparently three toll plazas at Hasanpur, Khantaghar and Banajodi at fairly short distance.
The petitioner (Mitra Bhanu Mohapatra) had also enclosed photographs, which showed the condition of NH-215. The court noted that the situation is precarious as the said stretch of NH-215 was used by heavy trucks, laden with ores and minerals and this stretch is a main thoroughfare and serves the need of access and transport to the people of the three districts of Odisha i.e. Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar and Jajpur.
The Orissa High Court directed the Collectors of Jajpur and Keonjhar alongwith the authorized representatives of the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) and senior level engineers to immediately undertake a visit to the mentioned stretches of NH-215, including the stretch covered by the three toll plazas.
The authorities have been directed to put in place a plan of action for repairing the stretches of NH-215 in a time-bound and urgent basis. The HC said that the repairs need to be completed within a period of three weeks.