Team Herald
PANJIM: The High Court of Bombay at Goa has directed the Public Works Department (PWD) to conduct an immediate inspection of the affected stretches of the Porvorim corridor work to determine whether pipeline leakages were impeding progress of the work for measures to resolve problems.
If you enjoyed reading this article, you can help support our journalism by adding OHeraldo as a preferred source.
The Court has ordered PWD to file a report on its findings by January 17 and simultaneously, the contractor has been instructed to file an affidavit by January 21 detailing progress made and the reasons for continued delays.
The High Court of Bombay at Goa recently considered Public Interest Litigation (PIL) Writ Petition No. 2656 of 2024, filed by a public-spirited citizen Adv Moses Pinto, as the petitioner in person.
The PIL raised serious concerns about incomplete road works on critical stretches of the Porvorim-Guirim highway and their implications for public safety. The case was heard before the Division Bench of Justices M S Karnik and Nivedita P Mehta on January 16.
The PIL focuses on persistent lapses in road infrastructure management, traffic diversions, and enforcement mechanisms, particularly concerning the ongoing construction of the NH66 elevated corridor. The petitioner argued that these deficiencies violated the fundamental Right to Life under Article 21 of the Indian Constitution due to heightened risks of road accidents, traffic congestion, and delayed medical responses. Photographs depicting incomplete roadwork at prominent locations, including RG Hospital, O Coqueiro Junction, and showrooms like Toyota, Hyundai and Nexa were submitted.
The petitioner contended that inadequate planning of traffic diversions, coupled with delays in construction had caused considerable disruption and posed a severe safety threat to commuters.
Citing international standards, the PIL also sought judicial intervention for the
adoption of modern traffic management technologies, such as Automated Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) systems, improved enforcement of traffic laws, and the establishment of trauma care facilities along accident-prone zones.
