The Nagpur bench of the Bombay High Court on Monday issued notice to the Maharashtra government and sought a detailed report after contractors alleged that the Public Works Department (PWD) had failed to clear bills amounting to crores of rupees.
The Nagpur Contractors Association filed an intervention application in an ongoing PIL related to cement road works in the city. The matter was heard by a division bench comprising Justices Urmila Joshi-Phalke and Nivedita Mehta.
According to the contractors, the prolonged delay in payments has caused severe financial stress, forcing several government projects to come to a standstill. The application stated that contractors had earlier tried to recover their dues through democratic means such as sit-ins, protest marches, and hunger strikes, but received no resolution, prompting them to approach the court.
Taking note of the submissions, the court directed the PWD to provide complete details regarding the pending payments. The matter is scheduled for its next hearing on May 8. Advocate Nikhil Kirtane appeared on behalf of the contractors.
In a related submission, the petitioners also expressed concern over the condition of cement roads in the city. They sought the appointment of a committee under judicial supervision or a third-party audit to examine the alleged deterioration of the roads.
The court directed the petitioners to submit photographs highlighting the road-related issues during the next hearing. Advocate Parvez Mirza represented the petitioners on this aspect of the case.
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