This story is from June 6, 2020

Patna-Gaya NH project: HC seeks status report from government

The Patna high court on Friday asked the development commissioner to conduct a meeting with officials concerned, including those from National Highway Authority of India (NHAI), to discuss ways for completion of much-delayed broadening and construction of National Highway connecting Patna and Gaya.
Patna-Gaya NH project: HC seeks status report from government
Representative image
PATNA: The Patna high court on Friday asked the development commissioner to conduct a meeting with officials concerned, including those from National Highway Authority of India (NHAI), to discuss ways for completion of much-delayed broadening and construction of National Highway connecting Patna and Gaya.
A division bench of Chief Justice Sanjay Karol and Justice S Kumar, which was hearing batch of two PILs filed by social organisation Pratijnya and Gaurav Kumar Singh via videoconferencing, has fixed June 8 as next date of hearing in the matter.

The court has also asked the state government to submit a status report on areas where acquisition process had not started yet; acquisition notification issued but amount not disbursed to rightful claimants and land which has not yet been handed over to NHAI for road construction.
The bench, while observing that a lot is required to be done, directed the state government to submit a reply on why more than Rs 300 crore is still lying with competent authority for land acquisition (CALA) in Jehanabad district.
Observing that matter is important in view of the upcoming monsoon, the court directed all officials concerned, including those from road construction department and NHAI, to present data to it through videoconferencing when the matter will be taken up for hearing next.
The court observed that the need of the highway is even more important at a time when people in large number are returning home from other states. “The road will boost tourism and provide employment to people in rural areas,” the court observed.

Additional solicitor general S D Sanjay and central government counsel Anshay Bhahadur Mathur appeared for NHAI, while additional advocate general Anjani Kumar represented the state. Counsel Manish Kumar appeared for Pratijnya and Sumeet Kumar Singh for the second petitioner.
Pratijnya had urged the high court to ask authorities concerned to complete land acquisition and finish the project without any further delay. Singh had filed the PIL to stop dumping of garbage and sewerage in Falgu river in Gaya.
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