SC raps Centre for delay in expressway project around Delhi

Supreme Court today came down heavily on the government and NHAI for delay in constructing the Eastern and Western Peripheral Expressway around Delhi, saying more children would be hospitalised due to the rising pollution levels in the city.
"You (NHAI) beg, borrow and steal money from the Central Government and start constructing road. Pollution level is rising and due to it, more children will be hospitalised," a bench headed by Chief Justice H L Dattu said, adding the apex court had passed the order in 2005 to construct expressway around Delhi to decongest and de-pollute its roads.
"This central government cannot react. You (NHAI) cannot take up the issue with the Prime Minister, Transport Minister. We will not extend the time (July, 2016). Go borrow from the World Bank and start constructing the road," the bench, also comprising justices Arun Mishra and Adarsh Kumar Goel, said.

The National Highway Authority of India (NHAI), however, said it does not build roads on its own but awards contracts to others. It sought some more time to conclude nitty-gritty of the bidding process.
"We had passed the order in 2005. Please implement it or we know how to get our orders implemented. For last ten years you did nothing," the bench said.
The apex court, which has been hearing a 1985 PIL filed by environmentalist M C Mehta on issues including vehicular pollution, had asked the Centre in 2005 to build peripheral expressway around Delhi by July 2016 to decongest and de-pollute the national capital.

Senior advocate Harish Salve, who appears in the case as an amicus curiae, said the NHAI can be given more time but SC's deadline to construct the expressway by July 2016 should not be extended.

He further said vehicular pollution was rising alarmingly and small children were getting hospitalized due to it.
Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for concessionaire which is no more linked with the expressway project, said the NHAI has not paid its due.
"That is a litigation between you (concessionaire) and the NHAI, the bench said. It has now fixed the plea for hearing on January 30.