The five-member commission set up by the Lucknow Bench of Allahabad High Court inspected the three closed roads adjacent to Ambedkar Memorial on Thursday.
The roads — one on the Gomti embankment, another between the memorial and the embankment and a third between the memorial and the Bhagidari Bhawan near Sahara Shahar — had been closed by Lucknow Development Authority (LDA). Two of the roads were the approach routes for the Gomti Nagar Extension.
The Bench, comprising justices Pradeep Kant and Shabibul Husnain, had formed the panel on March 26 while hearing a PIL challenging the closure, filed by the Gomti Nagar Jankalyan Mahasamiti.
Advocate Commissioner Alok Sharma, a member of the commission, said: “We have inspected the sites where the roads have been closed. The next hearing is on May 22 and the commission will submit the report before that date.”
The LDA is developing a zonal road and a railway overbridge near Sahara Shahar as alternative approach to the Gomti Nagar Extension. The commission, Sharma said, also has to report if the alternative routes are convenient for public or not.
MK Sharma, Deputy General Manager, RITES, a Government of India enterprise, and SS Iqbal, Project Manager, RITES, also accompanied the commission. “We are here to provide technical consultancy to the other members. For example, we have to tell them if the overbridge, which is under construction, is feasible or not,” Sharma said.
Chief Standing Counsel DK Upadhyay was present during the inspection as the LDA counsel, while advocate B K Singh was representing the petitioners. Joint Director SB Mishra and Chief Engineer SN Tripathi represented the LDA during the inspection.
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