‘Mere assurances won’t do’: HC raps CG govt over black spots on NH-130

Raipur: The Chhattisgarh high court reprimanded the state govt over ongoing safety hazards, delays and laxity in dealing with an accident-prone blackspot on highways. The court took into account the court commissioner's latest report and the chief secretary's personal affidavit, issuing fresh time-bound directions to prevent accidents. The chief secretary (CS) tendered an unconditional apology for the delay in removing a dhaba and a liquor shop that should have been removed earlier than they actually were. The court asked the CS and the regional director of NHAI (National Highways Authority of India) to file fresh affidavits on steps taken, insisting on full complaince rather than mere assurances. The high court directed the chief secretary to take "immediate and effective remedial steps" on the Sipat–Baloda–Korba and Raipur–Bilaspur (NH-130) stretches. The CS is to personally ensure that no untoward incidents, including accidents due to fog and smog, occur due to a lack of basic safety infrastructure.The court commissioner, counsel Apoorva Tripathi, submitted a report dated 16 Dec 2025, highlighting accident-prone "black spots" on stretches including Sipat–Baloda–Korba and Raipur–Bilaspur (NH-130), with a special focus on risks during fog and smog conditions. The report recommends urgent engineering interventions such as high-visibility reflective studs, delineators at curves and ghats, reflective chevron signs at black spots, and fog-related detection and warning systems on national highways.The bench of Chief Justice Ramesh Sinha and Justice Ravindra Kumar Agrawal noted that despite earlier assurances, a dhaba and a liquor shop abutting the national highway at Nagar Panchayat Sargaon were not removed within the time claimed in state affidavits. This prompted a direction for the chief secretary's personal explanation. The court recorded that the dhaba was removed after a delay but expressed concern that the liquor shop continues to operate at the same "black spot" location, where frequent accidents have been reported in the past.In his affidavit, the chief secretary stated that the dhaba was finally demolished on 17 Dec 2025, enclosing a panchnama, and admitted that the liquor shop near the highway is still functional but will be shifted on an "emergent basis" within an outer limit of 30 days. Acknowledging that the area is a known accident black spot, the affidavit details interim safety measures already installed there—rumble strips, radium warning lights, "Go Slow" signboards, accident-prone signage, solar blinkers, and replacement of missing road studs—and tenders an unconditional apology for the delay in removing both the dhaba and the liquor outlet.The CS and the regional officer of NHAI have been ordered to file fresh, detailed affidavits by 21 Jan 2026, specifying every action taken, steps initiated, and remedial measures implemented.