HC raps NHAI for ‘turning a blind eye’ to maintenance of Chandigarh-Shimla highway
In the wake of the repeated disruption of the Chandigarh–Shimla National Highway (NH-5), the Himachal Pradesh high court has rapped the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) for failing to maintain the premium highway, cautioning that toll collection at the Sanwara plaza could be suspended if urgent corrective steps are not taken.
“Apparently, the authorities of the NHAI are turning a blind eye even to maintain the premium highway. It is not disputed that the said highway is under construction and renovation is being carried out for a long time and the petition is pending since 2017,” ruled the division bench of chief justice GS Sandhawalia and justice Ranjan Sharma on August 28, while directing the Regional Officer of the NHAI of the State of Himachal Pradesh to come present on the next date of hearing and file a “comprehensive plan as to how this highway is to be maintained”.
