SUSHIL RATNAKAR NIMBALKAR Vs. STATE OF MAHARASHTRA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) This is a Public Interest Petition praying for directions to respondent no.5-Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation Ltd. ("MSRDC") to complete the road project upto Bhiwandi junction on the Mumbai-Agra Highway (BKSP Road) (Ranjoli Junction-Four lanes to six lanes). The petitioner contends that Bhiwandi-Kalyan-Shil Phata is an important road which connects the sub-roads to the diferent National Highways being National Highway No. 3, National Highway No. 4, that is the Mumbai-Ahmedabad Highway, Mumbai-Nashik and Mumbai-Pune Highway. It is contended that vide notice dated 21st September, 2017 MSRDC had invited bids for the said project, which was to be completed within 30 months. In or about July 2019 the contract for this work came to be awarded to respondent nos. 6 and 7.

(2.) The concern of the petitioner is of a snail speed at which this public work is being undertaken. The road being one of the major connection to the diferent highways, bears trafc of heavy transport vehicles of all kinds as also commercial LMV and in addition to it routine local trafc of cars, autos, taxis scooters etc. The grievance is of extreme inconvenience faced by the citizens caused due to severe trafc jams, resulting in hours being spent by the commuters for a small commute of about 5 kms. It is the grievance of the petitioner that since the beginning of the said project, execution of the work is at a very slow speed, resulting into a perpetual heavy trafc jams. Learned counsel for the petitioner would submit that due to delay in completion of the project, apart from the commuters facing immense hardship in the last four years, more than 330 accidents have occurred and 52 citizens have lost their lives.

(3.) The grievance of the petitioner is also in regard to a Road Over Bridge (ROB) which is a part of the said project and for which, designs are pending approval with respondent no. 2-Railways. The petitioner contends that the railways have failed and neglected to approve the design submitted for the construction of the said ROB for almost about two years. It is in these circumstances, they are before the Court.