The State Government on Thursday filed an affidavit before the Jharkhand High Court stating that Phase -1 and Phase-2 of Ranchi-Jamshedpur National Highway-33 be delinked from the National Highway Authority of India’s (NHAI) project adding that the Government was ready to construct the two phases at its own cost.
The appeal was made during hearing in the PIl (WP-PIl/3503/2014 before the division bench comprising Justice Aparesh Kumar Singh and justice Anil Kumar Choudhary.
The government stated that the Phase-1 and 2 is also a part of the Ranchi Ring Road adding that delay in construction of the road was causing traffic problems in the city.
Advocate general Ajit Kumar, who appeared on behalf of the State, requested the court to direct NHAI for early completion of the project despite the CBI inquiry into the alleged irregularities related to the project. The AG said that court has assured that it would consider the proposals and issue suitable order.
The bench was of the view that efforts should be made for continuation of the NH 33 work under present agreement, adding that the contractor may be changed. It stated that new contractor be assigned the work and the rival monetary issues of the existing stakeholders be settled through various methods.
lawyers representing Contractor Company Madhocom proposed that it could remain in the agreement and the Ranchi Express limited (REl), which is the special purpose vehicle to construct the NH, be changed. The company also agreed to withdraw completely from the agreement while stating the rival claims of the agencies involved in work may be left open for settlement. The court directed the company to file an affidavit related to their proposals by August 13.
The stakeholders of the NH-33 projects would hold a meeting on August 16 to chalk out the proposal for completion of the work with minimum complication. The next hearing in the case would be held on August 23.
Notably, widening of Ranchi-Jamshedpur NH, which was taken up in 2012, was scheduled to be completed by 2015.
However the project is yet to be completed at present. The High Court had in its last hearing ordered for a CBI inquiry in the case.