NHAI fined Rs 14 crore for damaging roads during construction of Delhi-Meerut E-way

GHAZIABAD: The Ghaziabad district administration in Uttar Pradesh has imposed a fine of Rs 14 crore on the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) for damaging roads during the construction of the stretches from Dasna to Hapur (NH-9) and Dasna to

Meerut

of the

Delhi-Meerut Expressway

.


The highways authority has been given 15 days to deposit the money with the

Public Works Department

(PWD), failing which a recovery certificate will be issued against it.

NHAI project director RP Singh said he would take up the matter with senior officials after receiving the formal letter.

Public Works Department (PWD) executive engineer Manish Verma informed district magistrate Ajay Shankar Pandey that 53 rural roads, including the 11.35km road along Ganga canal between Masuri and Muradnagar, was damaged due to the movement of dumpers and heavy machinery. He added that despite several letters and verbal reminders to NHAI officials, no repair work was carried out and no funds had been made available either to the PWD.

Pandey subsequently directed the PWD to conduct a survey of the roads and submit a report on the amount needed for repairs, after which the department gave an estimate of Rs 14 crore. Based on the report, the DM said if the amount was not deposited by the NHAI in the next 15 days, a recovery certificate will be issued against it. In case there’s no action even after that, arrest warrants would be against the officials concerned, he said.

In August, Pandey had constituted a district road control committee with an aim to bring about transparency and coordination between departments like NHAI, PWD, Ghaziabad Development Authority (GDA) and others.

During a recent meeting of the committee, the PWD had highlighted the issue of roads in the rural areas of Dasna being damaged by the NHAI while carrying out construction of the expressway.

The PWD official had further informed the administration that these roads are the main thoroughfare for residents of nearby villages and their poor condition has caused them indignation. The villagers had met officials several times and sought restoration of the roads.

During a survey on the DME, the Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board regional officer had noticed many spots on the Delhi-Meerut Expressway where loose soil was kept in the open, resulting in dust pollution. The state board then recommended that the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) impose a penalty of more than Rs 90 lakh on the NHAI for not adhering to environmental norms.

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