New Delhi: A committee appointed by the
Supreme Court has blamed Uttar Pradesh government for tardy
progress on the ambitious East-West peripheral Expressway
project aimed at decongesting traffic in the national capital.
When the matter came up for hearing before a Special
Forest Bench headed by Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan, it was
informed that there had been progress on the western periphery
and Haryana government has done 42 per cent of the development
work.
However, senior advocate Harish Salve, who is
assisting the court as amicus curiae, said quoting the report
that "the situation is grim on the eastern perphery of the
Expressway" as Uttar Pradesh government has not completed the
land acquisition for the project.
He pointed to the report of the Bhure Lal Committee
and said due to the delay, the project cost for the eastern
periphery has esclated from Rs 3,551 crore to Rs 4,700 crore.
However, the advocate, appearing for Uttar Pradesh
government, claimed land acquisition for the project has been
completed but there has been a dispute relating to the land
for making the loopway.
Taking stock of the situation, the Bench, also
comprising Justices S H Kapadia and Aftab Alam, accepted the
suggestion of Salve that the Chief Secretary of Uttar Pradesh,
Secretary of the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI)
and Bhure Lal should hold a meeting to resolve the differences
which are coming in way of the project.
The court posted the matter after three weeks.
PTI
First Published: Friday, February 05, 2010, 21:31