High Court sets March 2027 deadline to complete Nagpur-Katol highway work
The Bombay High Court's Nagpur bench has fixed March 2027 as the final date to finish the stalled Nagpur-Katol national highway, after NHAI filed an affidavit on compliance.
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Construction of the Nagpur-Katol national highway has been stalled for a long time. A public interest litigation on the issue was heard by the Nagpur bench of the Bombay High Court, which has now fixed March 2027 as the final deadline for completing the work.
The court had issued an order in the matter on February 25, 2026. The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) filed an affidavit in court on compliance with that order. The High Court took the affidavit on record and then set the March 2027 deadline for completing construction.
Presenting NHAI's case, its lawyers told the court that cure period notices have been issued to two companies to remedy, within 60 days, the pending work and the deficiencies left on the highway. The companies are Agrawal Global Infratech Private Limited and M/s Joint Stock Company Industrial 'Vozrozhdenia' Association.
Of the two, Agrawal Infratech has been given an extension until December 31, 2026 to complete the work.
The position is different in the case of the joint stock company. The court was told during the hearing that this company's contract has been terminated. The remaining work in this section will now be completed by NHAI itself under its direct supervision.
The High Court also directed NHAI to submit to the court a detailed report on the work done so far and the extent to which the order has been complied with.
Advocate Rohan Dhatrak appeared for the petitioner in the PIL. Advocate A. A. Kathane appeared for NHAI.
Following the court's firm stand and the deadline it has set, it is hoped that the thousands of commuters and drivers who travel daily between Nagpur and Katol will soon get relief from the poor and incomplete roads. This could make traffic smoother and safer.
