BHUBANESWAR: The Odisha Human Rights Commission (OHRC) on Friday summoned the state government, Centre, National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) and NH project director of Sambalpur in connection with road accident deaths on Cuttack-Sambalpur NH-55.
Acting on a petition filed by lawyer Shivsankar Mohanty, the human rights panel asked the principal secretary of Works department, secretary of Union Road Transport and Highways and NHAI authorities to submit their response before the next hearing in July.
In his petition, Mohanty drew the attention of the panel towards rise in road accidents and fatalities on NH-55 due to haphazard constructions and its deplorable condition. An alarming 401 accidents took place on the highway in 2023 in which 186 people died, he said.
The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways had decided to expand the 265-km highway to four-lane in 2005. The expansion work that started 12 years late in 2017 is yet to be completed despite several deadlines being missed. The four-laning work was to be finished by September, 2020.
“The NH-55 passes through Angul and NH-53 through Kaniha and Talcher while NH-149 connects Banrapal to Pallahara. These highways have turned into death trap due to lack of repairs. Road accidents have become a regular affair on several stretches,” the petition stated.
Citing several high courts have already held that roads without potholes are a fundamental right of citizens under Article 21 of the Constitution, the petitioner alleged, the condition of NH-55 relates to negligence on the part of the respondents to provide safe road communication.
As per sections 4 and 5 of The National Highways Act, 1956 read with section 16 of the NHAI Act, 1988 there is no doubt NHAI is responsible for the maintenance of the highway, including the stretch on NH-55 on which the accidents occurred during expansion work, Mohanty said while demanding adequate compensation for the kin of those who lost their lives in accidents.