HC asks Centre’s reply on plea to complete Vikravandi–Thanjavur NH

CHENNAI: The Madras High Court on Monday directed the Union Government and the National Highways Authority of India to file their response on a petition over the long pending works of completing the Vikravandi – Thanjavur NH road in the state.

The first bench of Acting Chief Justice T Raja and Justice D Krishnakumar passed the direction on hearing the petition filed by PMK leader and advocate K Balu.

The petitioner sought direction to complete the project namely the new alignment of the four-lane NH- 36/ NH- 45-C Vikravandi – Kumbakonam -Thanjavur section of NH particularly from Vikravandi to Pinnalur within such reasonable time as may be fixed by the court by considering his representation dated August 24, 2021.

Balu further prayed for two interim directions to finish the patch works as the provisional remedy in the said stretch and to restrain the authorities from collecting the money at the toll plaza till the road works are completed from Vikravandi to Thanjavur.

He further said due to the incompetency of the union government and the contractors, the project started in 2017 are going at a snail’s pace.

“The precious time of the road users is being wasted and several areas have become accident-prone black spots posing an imminent risk to the life of the travelers in the unconstructed roads,” the petitioner said in his affidavit.

Recording the submissions, the bench ordered the principal secretary, union road transport and highways ministry, managing director, and projector director of NHAI to file a response on October 11.