The Delhi High Court expressed strong disapproval of Delhi Transco Limited’s (DTL) lack of cooperation in facilitating the construction of a Bailey Bridge for the Rajputana Rifles, the Indian Army’s oldest rifle regiment, stationed at Delhi Cantonment. The Court ordered the agency to issue the necessary No-Objection Certificate (NOC) within one week.
A bench comprising Justice Prathiba M. Singh and Justice Manmeet P.S. Arora passed the directive after Delhi Cantonment Board (DCB) counsel, Tarveen Singh Nanda, informed the Court that although the Army was ready to construct the bridge within forty days of receiving a clear site, DTL officials had failed to identify the underground 200-kilowatt electric cable during a meeting and had not issued the required NOC.
“Why is there a lack of cooperation? They cannot avoid their responsibilities. The DTL officials attended the meetings and must ensure compliance,” the bench observed. The Court added that officials who participated in the site inspection must personally ensure the NOC is issued within a week, warning that failure to do so could result in stringent action, including contempt proceedings.
The matter originated from a suo motu petition, which highlighted the hardships faced by 3,000 soldiers of the regiment forced to traverse a foul-smelling culvert four times daily to reach their parade ground due to the delay in constructing a foot over-bridge.
Earlier, on July 28, the Court had directed the Public Works Department (PWD) to commence the tendering process for the bridge, release an advance of twenty-five lakh rupees to the Army for initiating construction, and take steps for tree pruning or relocation to accommodate the temporary bridge.
During Friday’s proceedings, PWD counsel Dhruv Rohatgi informed the Court that the advance payment had been released, and the tender process for the FOB was underway, with the contract expected to be awarded by September fifteenth. He added that the forest department had requested clarifications regarding tree cutting and relocation.
The Court directed the forest department to resolve the application by September tenth and scheduled the next hearing for September 26.
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