'Panel to study partnership policy with road contractors'

Maharashtra government today informed the Bombay High Court that it has formed a committee to look into the partnership policy between government and contractors appointed for road construction and development and collection of toll on these roads.
A division bench of Justices D Y Chandrachud and M S Sonak was hearing a public interest litigation filed by one Sashikant Changede regarding incomplete work on the state highway between Shirur and Pune.
The PIL sought for no toll to be collected from vehicles plying on this road till completion of work.
The High Court had on earlier occasions suggested the government to form a policy to look into the issue.

The government today told the court that it has issued a resolution setting up a committee to study public private partnership policy which would be applicable for on-going and future road development projects.
The committee would submit its report along with recommendations to the state government within three months.

The court was also informed that another committee has been formed to study the problems raised by the petitioner in respect to the highway road between Shirur and Pune.
According to the PIL, the contractor, Ashoka Buildcon Ltd, won the bid to construct the 64-km stretch between Pune and Shirur, for which work started in 2003.

The company was allowed to collect toll in 2005 despite the work being incomplete, with a condition that the project should be completed within the next 60 days, the PIL said.
The court today accepted the government's decision and posted the matter for further hearing in December.