Chhattisgarh High Court Orders Immediate Action on Dilapidated Coal Transport Road in Bilaspur
The Chhattisgarh High Court has taken a firm stance on a critical infrastructure issue in Bilaspur. It held the Town and Country Planning department directly responsible for maintaining a road used for transporting coal and fly ash. The court issued clear directives to ensure the road becomes safe for public use without further delay.
Court Directs Joint Director to Provide Repair Timeline
A division bench led by Chief Justice Ramesh Sinha and Justice Ravindra Kumar Agrawal delivered this significant order. They heard the case on January 13, 2026, taking suo motu cognizance of the matter. The bench specifically instructed the Joint Director of the Town and Country Planning department in Bilaspur to file a detailed affidavit. This affidavit must outline a concrete timeline for repairing and upgrading the road to make it fully motorable.
The court emphasized that the TCP department functions as an instrumentality of the state government. Therefore, it bears ultimate accountability for the road's upkeep and condition. The judges stressed that public safety cannot be compromised due to bureaucratic delays or jurisdictional disputes.
Jurisdictional Dispute Resolved by Court Observation
Earlier hearings revealed a deadlock over which authority should maintain the road. The Municipal Corporation of Bilaspur argued that the road did not fall under its jurisdiction. It suggested the Chhattisgarh State Industrial Development Corporation managed the stretch instead.
However, the Managing Director of CSIDC submitted an affidavit with a different claim. A survey and map of the area confirmed the road lay outside the corporation's industrial jurisdiction. CSIDC informed the court that the Department of Town and Country Planning held exclusive domain over this particular road.
The high court bench made a crucial observation while resolving this dispute. It noted that although formal jurisdiction rests with the TCP department, a large number of heavy vehicles use the road daily. These vehicles transport materials to and from industrial areas administered by CSIDC.
CSIDC Also Receives Directives for Road Maintenance
Chief Justice Sinha issued additional instructions to the Managing Director of CSIDC. He directed the corporation to ensure the road remains serviceable to prevent any threats to public safety. CSIDC must file a further affidavit detailing concrete steps for maintenance. This includes coordination with other government departments to address the road's condition effectively.
The court is actively monitoring hazards caused by heavy vehicular traffic in the region. It noted that such traffic leads to rapid deterioration of roads, creating dangerous conditions for all users.
Background of Court's Intervention in Bilaspur Infrastructure
This is not the first time the Chhattisgarh High Court has intervened in Bilaspur's infrastructure issues. In February 2025, the court took suo motu cognizance through a Public Interest Litigation. That case concerned the poor condition of roads leading to a hospital in Bilaspur.
The court observed at that time that the road was in a deplorable state. Illegal encroachments on both sides caused significant inconvenience to patients and their attendants visiting the hospital for treatment. The current order continues the court's proactive approach to ensuring basic infrastructure meets public safety standards across Bilaspur.
The combined directives to both the TCP department and CSIDC demonstrate the court's comprehensive approach. It seeks to eliminate bureaucratic hurdles and ensure timely repairs for the benefit of all citizens using the coal transport road.
