PURI: The Sub-Divisional Magistrate, Madhusudan Dash has registered a criminal case against the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) and asked the authorities concerned to appear in the court within 15 days. Following complaints of frequent accidents due to potholes on the NH-316 near Biraharekrushnapur, Sakhigopal and Pipili, the Collector had asked Dash to inquire. Following a directive by Dash, the local tehsildar visited the spots and submitted a report on bad road condition leading to accidents.
Even as the Puri administration took up the issue with the NHAI several times before the Rath Yatra, no action was taken to repair the damaged NH stretch. Apparently, the contractor as per agreement was to maintain the road for 19 years under the supervision of NHAI. Although toll is being collected on the NH-316, money is not spent on repairing the road.