The Kerala High Court on Monday directed the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) to take immediate steps to get every damaged or potholed roads under its control repaired through its concessionaires or contractor in a week.
Observing that the court could not let the roads in the State be “killing fields”, Justice Devan Ramachandran directed all the District Collectors in their capacity as head of the District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) to issue orders with respect to any road on which potholes are found and take necessary action against the jurisdictional engineer or contractors or any other persons responsible for its poor maintenance.
The court also directed the NHAI to conduct an inquiry into the accident in which a scooter rider died after his two-wheeler fell into a big pothole at Athani near Nedumbassery and accidents that occurred in another stretch that had gone into disrepair and to file a report fixing the responsibility on the concessionaire or contractors concerned.
