Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (SP)

Udupi, Oct 28: Karnataka High Court poured cold water on the aspirations of 181 persons, who had through four writ petitions, sought limiting of the widening work of national highway stretch between Kundapur and Suratkal to 45 metres instead of 60 metres as planned by National Highways Authority of India (NHAI). These writs were quashed on October 17. With this, NHAI got the green signal to go ahead with highway expansion plan as scheduled.

Work to widen 15 km stretch of the national highway between Talapady and Mangalore, and 75 km from Suratkal to Kundapur, has been taken up. NHAI has prepared blue print to expand this road by acquiring land on both sides of the road up to a total width 60 metres, as a result of which, various persons have lost lands and property. The distressed people had got a stay against the widening work from the High Court. They contended that NHAI had permitted national highway widening up to 45 metres at several stretches including Goa, Kerala, etc, and that as per the original plan, 45 metres is enough for even a six-lane highway.

Justice Ashok B Hinchageri, who had stayed highway widening work initially, dismissed all the writ petitions in his final order. Nalini Chidambaram, wife of union home minister, P Chidambaram, N M Swamy represented the affected persons, while lawyers representing Singhania Associates and M V Kini and Co placed their arguments before the High Court on behalf of NHAI.  The High Court did not find merit in the arguments put forth by the petitioners against the 60 metre widening plan.

A few more writ petitions, which relate to certain issues other than those dealt with as above, are still pending in the High Court. In the meanwhile, highway widening work is moving ahead rapidly at places where the High Court stay order is no more in force.