HC imposes ₹25K penalty on 2 govt depts, 3 forest officers for ignoring directives in Nagpur-Katol road safety PIL
Nagpur: The Nagpur bench of the
Bombay High Court
on Wednesday imposed a collective cost of Rs25,000 on two govt departments and three forest officers for failing to comply with its directives regarding the Nagpur-Katol road widening project.
The
Maharashtra Urban Development Department
(UDD),
Public Works Department
(PWD), Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF), Deputy Conservator of Forests (DCF), and the Range Forest Officer were penalized for not submitting their replies despite previous directions from the court.
A division bench comprising Justices Nitin Sambre and Vrushali Joshi directed the departments to file their affidavits within two weeks and warned that any further delay would not be tolerated.
The directions came while hearing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by citizens Dinesh Thakre and Sumit Babuta, represented by advocate Mahesh Dhatrak. The PIL raised concerns over prolonged delays in the project and the resulting public safety hazards.
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According to the petition, the
National Highways Authority of India
(NHAI) signed an agreement in September 2021 with two contractor firms—Agarwal Global Infrastructure and Joint Stock Company Industrial Association—to convert the Nagpur-Katol stretch into a four-lane highway. The 49.9 km project was scheduled for completion by August 2023. However, construction has been stalled for over 18 months with no visible progress.
The PIL alleges that the incomplete roadworks have left behind hazardous diversions, abrupt curves, and exposed stretches lacking even basic safety features such as signage or barriers. These conditions have reportedly led to numerous accidents, including fatalities. Photographic evidence and news reports were submitted to substantiate these claims.
In a previous hearing, the court had issued interim directions to central and state authorities—including the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, the NHAI regional office, and senior officials from the state's PWD and forest departments—ordering the immediate installation of proper signage at sharp turns and accident-prone zones.
In its response, NHAI submitted a compliance affidavit through Project Director Chandrakant Sinha, confirming that radium boards and diversion signage had been installed in accordance with the court's earlier order dated March 26. The affidavit included photographic documentation of safety measures implemented by the two EPC (Engineering, Procurement and Construction) contractors.
NHAI also stated that it would file a comprehensive affidavit with further details upon receiving necessary approvals from its competent authority. Official correspondence dated April 12, 2025, from NHAI to the contractors, was also submitted.
The petitioners have urged the court to order a time-bound completion of the project, implement essential safety measures, and take action against officials responsible for the delays and alleged negligence.
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