The Nagpur bench of the Bombay High Court on Monday slammed the state Public Works Department (PWD) for repeatedly seeking extensions to complete the Ambazari bridge. The project was initially due by August 15, then extended to August 30, and now the PWD is seeking another extension until September 30, citing various reasons for the delays. Justices Nitin Sambre and Abhay Mantri expressed their frustration with the PWD’s justifications for the delays.
In its affidavit, the PWD outlined several issues causing the delay, such as challenges in cutting through hard rock, problems with relocating electric cables, and disruptions from heavy rainfall.
Additionally, the department mentioned that many labourers had gone back to their native villages for crop sowing, which has further slowed down the project’s progress.
However, the judges observed that the PWD should have anticipated and planned for these challenges from the beginning. The bench emphasized that it was not satisfied with the PWD’s response to the delays and made it clear that the department must speed up the bridge’s completion.
The High Court’s reprimand occurred during the hearing of PIL No. 56/2023, filed by Ramgopal Bachuka and others, which highlighted issues with the Ambazari dam area. The bridge was blocking excess water flow from the dam, causing severe flooding in nearby areas on September 23 last year. Petitioners’ counsel, Tushar Mandlekar, also questioned the legality and environmental impact of the Vivekananda statue and related structures in the Ambazari area.
He noted that the constructions, including a library, sitting hall, and pedestal, were built without the necessary building and occupancy certificates. Mandlekar argued that no construction should be permitted near the Ambazari dam, a stance supported by a Maharashtra Engineering Research Institute report citing risks associated with building in the area.
In response, senior counsel SK Mishra, representing the NMC, requested more time to file a reply and assured the court that all formalities would be completed by August 27. As a result, the bench adjourned the hearing till August 28.
The petitioners have also requested the court to stop the ongoing construction of the ‘Seven Wonders of the World’ project by MahaMetro..