Centre, NHAI Inform HC That NH-715 Expansion Project Is Under Review.

The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways and the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) informed the Gauhati High Court that the NH-715 expansion project remains unapproved by the ministry and is currently under review.

In a joint affidavit, the ministry and NHAI stated that the highway authority had been directed to submit a modified proposal with an alternative alignment. Following this submission, the high court closed the petitions related to the project.

The case originated from writ petitions challenging the new alignment of NH-715 for its expansion into a four-lane highway. The petitioners objected to the proposed route between Kaliabor Tiniali in Nagaon district and Numaligarh in Golaghat district, arguing that the alignment differed from the one initially notified by NHAI. They also alleged that the project, originally designated as a brownfield development, was being executed on an entirely new alignment.

A bench comprising Chief Justice Vijay Bishnoi and Justice Suman Shyam, which heard the matter on Thursday, initially held that the court should not interfere in highway alignment decisions. However, considering the concerns raised, the court had earlier directed NHAI to clarify its position, leading to the ministry’s submission that the project is now under review.1

NH-715 originates from NH-15 near Tezpur, passing through Jakhalabandha, Bokakhat, and Jorhat before terminating at NH-2 near Jhanji. The petitioners claimed that the authorities were deviating from this alignment, prompting the legal challenge.

ET