Closed roads: panel to submit report in 6 weeks

The Bench comprising Justices Pradeep Kant and Shabihul Hasnain set up the commission after hearing a Public Interest Litigation filed by Gomti Nagar Jankalyan Mahasamiti challenging the closure of the roads.

The petitioner’s counsel,B K Singh,said: “The LDA had closed two roads near Ambedkar Memorial to develop parking lots. Another road on the Gomti embankment has been closed to set up a police barrack. These were the approach roads for the Gomti Nagar Extension.”

The commission comprises advocates Alok Sharma and Manish Jauhri,two executive engineers and a representative from RITES – a Government of India enterprise. They will visit the sites in the presence of the counsels of both the petitioner and the respondents.

Additional Advocate General J N Mathur and Chief Standing Counsel D K Upadhyay appeared on behalf of state government as well as LDA.

“The court has asked whether new alternative route shortens the distance for commuters or not,” said Upadhyaya.

On September 6,2008,the LDA Board had decided to change the land use of two roads near Ambedkar Memorial from “road transport” to “public utilities” to develop parking lots. On October 13,the Board has changed land use of 900-sq m land on Gomti embankment for a police barrack.

In the previous hearings,the court had directed the LDA to consider its decision of closing the road to set up a police barrack. On Wednesday,it apprised the court that site of police barrack will not be changed.