The Lucknow Bench of the Allahabad High Court has set up a five-member commission to inspect the three roads closed near Ambedkar Memorial in Gomti Nagar. The commission has been asked to submit a report within six weeks if the closure of roads was causing inconvenience to the people.

Now, Lucknow Development Authority (LDA) was developing a zonal road and a railway overbridge near Sahara Shahar as an alternative approach to the Gomti Nagar Extension. The panel will also have to report whether the route will be convenient for the commuters.

The Bench comprising Justices Pradeep Kant and Shabihul Hasnain set up the commission after hearing a Public Interest Litigation filed by Gomti Nagar Jankalyan Mahasamiti challenging the closure of the roads.

The petitioner’s counsel, B K Singh, said: “The LDA had closed two roads near Ambedkar Memorial to develop parking lots. Another road on the Gomti embankment has been closed to set up a police barrack. These were the approach roads for the Gomti Nagar Extension.”

The commission comprises advocates Alok Sharma and Manish Jauhri, two executive engineers and a representative from RITES - a Government of India enterprise. They will visit the sites in the presence of the counsels of both the petitioner and the respondents.

Additional Advocate General J N Mathur and Chief Standing Counsel D K Upadhyay appeared on behalf of state government as well as LDA.

“The court has asked whether new alternative route shortens the distance for commuters or not,” said Upadhyaya.

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