On Thursday, the Delhi High Court granted the Delhi Government a three-month period to begin repairing defects in a decade-old flyover near Nathu Colony Chowk.
The court closed proceedings on a PIL filed by BJP MLA Jitendra Mahajan, who had raised concerns over the delayed repairs.
A bench comprising Acting Chief Justice Vibhu Bakhru and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela noted submissions from counsel representing the Public Works Department (PWD) and the Delhi Tourism and Transportation Development Corporation (DTTDC).
The bench observed that the authorities were already addressing the issue, and no further judicial intervention was required.
“It is clear that the authorities concerned have now taken up the task of addressing the repair/reconstruction of the road over bridge (ROB). The counsel for the respondents stated that the necessary steps to commence work would be initiated within three months,” the court said.
When the petitioner’s counsel requested a specific timeline for the repairs, the court orally remarked, “Three months, we have said so. You can revive it anytime.”
Jitendra Mahajan had filed the PIL last year, urging the Delhi Government, PWD, and DTTDC to repair and reopen the flyover, which has remained closed to heavy vehicles for two years. He alleged that construction defects had been evident since 2015 and that despite repeated warnings, no significant action had been taken by the authorities or the builder.
The petitioner also informed the court that he had raised the issue repeatedly over the past eight years, including during assembly sessions.
On behalf of the Delhi Government, counsel informed the court that an independent agency had been appointed to inspect the flyover. A meeting chaired by the Chief Minister had been held to devise a strategy, and the inspection report was expected shortly. The repair process would commence as soon as the report was finalized.
The government’s counsel further stated that Chief Minister Atishi was personally monitoring the matter and assured the court that the necessary steps would begin within three months.
In November, the Delhi High Court criticized city authorities for the deteriorated condition of the flyover, questioning why an internal inquiry had not been initiated. The court had even suggested a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the matter, citing concerns over possible corruption.
“It is clear that someone is trying to push corruption under the carpet,” the court had remarked.
According to the PIL filed through lawyers Neeraj, Satya Ranjan, and K.K. Mishra, the DTTDC awarded the project in 2016 for constructing a road over bridge (ROB) and a road under bridge (RUB) near Nathu Colony Chowk. However, defects in the flyover were identified early on, and no rectification has been undertaken to date.
The closure of the flyover to heavy vehicles has further exacerbated traffic congestion in the area, prompting Mahajan to seek judicial intervention.
The court’s decision to grant three months for initiating repairs allows the government time to act, with the option for the petitioner to revive the matter if progress stalls.
"There is an inordinate delay in rectifying these defects & till date no action has been taken to ensure the safety of the public at large," the petition had claimed, while praying for directions towards repair & reopening of the flyover.
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