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Highway Horror: Gujarat HC Orders NHAI to Bare All on 'Pitiable' NH-8 Stretches
In a sharp push for accountability, a of the —led by Chief Justice Sunita Agarwal and Justice D.N. Ray—has directed the to file a detailed on the crumbling state of key NH-8 sections. The filed by Mineshkumar Parmar highlight years of neglect on the Ankleshwar-Bharuch, Bharuch-Surat, and Surat-Dahisar stretches, plagued by congestion and poor upkeep despite hefty toll collections.
From Industrial Boom to Traffic Nightmare
These vital highway segments snake through Gujarat's manufacturing heartland, where heavy commercial traffic has turned roads into bottlenecks. Petitioners, represented by and , painted a grim picture: consistent snarls from trucks serving factories, compounded by NHAI's alleged "complete dereliction" in managing the old NH-8. The PILs— and No. 22 of 2023—argue that toll plazas have raked in massive revenues, yet potholes and disrepair persist, endangering commuters.
Petitioners Level Charges of Toll-Fueled Neglect
The core grievance? NHAI, fully in charge, has pocketed "huge toll" from plazas along these routes but failed to deliver basic maintenance. Ms. Jani emphasized the industrial area's transport demands, slamming the authority for allowing conditions to deteriorate "for a long time." Reports echo this, noting the stretches' role as lifelines now choked by neglect.
NHAI Counters: Encroachments and Official Roadblocks
Defending NHAI, shifted blame to external hurdles. He argued that roadside parking, proliferating dhabas , and encroachments—fueled by "non-cooperation" from local police and administrators—hamper effective control. These issues, he claimed, are the "major cause of concern" blocking proper management.
Bench Demands Facts Over Finger-Pointing
Recognizing the standoff, Chief Justice Agarwal's bench refused to rush judgment. Instead, it mandated transparency: Project Directors must affirm details of construction/repairs over the last three years—including intervals and methods—and a financial breakdown of maintenance/operations spending
toll collections.
"Before proceeding further, it is required that an
... shall be filed,"
the court ordered, requiring advance service to petitioners' counsel.
No precedents were cited in this , as the focus remains on evidentiary directives rather than settled law. The ruling underscores administrative accountability under , distinguishing NHAI's toll obligations from local enforcement lapses.
Key Observations
"the road conditions have been pitiable for a long time."(Petitioners' submission, noted by the bench)
"consistent congestion on the aforesaid sections of the National Highway No.8 with the heavy movements of the commercial transport vehicles for the area marked heavily by manufacturing industries."(Highlighting the traffic crisis)
"issues pertaining to parking of the vehicles on the road side and mushrooming of dhabas on the roadside and a section of the roads by encroachment of the portion of the National Highway, is a major cause of concern."(NHAI's defense)
"the amounts spent by NHAI in the operations and maintenance of the aforesaid sections of the National Highway vis-a-vis the toll collected by the NHAI in the last three years."(Core directive from the order)
Road to Remedy: by April, Hearing Looms
The final order is unequivocal: File the pronto, with the matter listed for This interim step could expose fiscal mismatches, pressuring NHAI to act amid public outcry. For commuters and industries reliant on these arteries, it signals hope that accountability might finally smooth Gujarat's highway woes—potentially setting a template for other neglected national routes.
