Telangana HC directs govt to respond to 97-year-old freedom fighter’s PIL on road widening irregularities

The Telangana High Court directed the state government to respond to allegations that unauthorized structures and statues along the Miryalaguda–Huzurnagar road remain unremoved. The court was hearing a PIL challenging irregularities in a road-widening project in Suryapet district

Hyderabad: Chief Justice Aparesh Kumar Singh and Justice GM Mohiuddin of the Telangana High Court on Thursday have directed the State Government to explain allegations that unauthorized structures and statues erected along the Miryalaguda–Huzurnagar main road have not been removed despite repeated representations.

The Division Bench was hearing a public interest litigation filed by 97-year-old freedom fighter Bandla Pulla Reddy of Garidepalli village in Suryapet district, alleging irregularities in the road widening project from the Miryalaguda–Huzurnagar main road up to Ayyappa Swamy Temple and onwards to Alangipur village.

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Counsel for the petitioner contended that instead of widening the road uniformly from the existing centre line, the authorities were expanding the road only on one side by about 10 feet under the guise of protecting certain institutions, thereby causing loss to a section of landowners.

It was argued that the authorities had deviated from the approved alignment and were implementing the project in a unilateral manner. The petitioner sought directions to widen the road equally by five feet on either side of the existing centre line so as to maintain uniform road width.

It was further contended that several unauthorized statues and structures had been erected on government land abutting the road and that despite representations, the authorities had failed to remove them.

According to the petitioner, such structures were contrary to the guidelines issued by the Supreme Court and earlier orders of the High Court.

After hearing the submissions, the Bench directed the Government Pleader for Roads and Buildings to obtain instructions from the competent authorities and place before the Court details regarding the allegations relating to unauthorized structures and statues on public roads. The matter was adjourned by two weeks for further hearing.