YELAMANCHILI BASAVESWARA RAO Vs. UNION OF INDIA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) As the issues involved in these matters are similar in nature, the same are taken up together with the consent of all the parties and disposed of by this common judgment.

(2.) At the outset, it would be appropriate to set out the brief narrative of the background of the matters that eventually lead the respective parties to approach this Court.

(3.) To curb the traffic congestion due to heavy vehicular traffic on National Highway (hereinafter referred to as 'N.H.') Nos. 16 and 65, passing through the ring road in the midst of Vijayawada city, initially a flyover popularly known as Benz circle/Benz flyover (hereinafter referred to as '1 flyover') was constructed on the eastern side for free flow of traffic from Calcutta side to Chennai side. The said flyover of a length of about Km. 2.50 meters starts at Novotel junction, ends at Screw Bridge junction and was brought into operation in the year 2020. Further, to ease the flow of traffic on the National Highway from Chennai side to Calcutta side, on the western side, another flyover (hereinafter referred to as '2 flyover') was proposed to be constructed. The said flyover with a length of about Km.2.47 meters is parallel to the 1 flyover covering three junctions viz., Benz circle junction, Nirmala Convent junction and Ramesh Hospital junction. Vehicles from Chennai side can ply on the 2 flyover without hindrance to local traffic at the above said junctions and the works in respect of the same are being carried at a rapid pace. Ventilating certain grievances with reference to the said flyovers, some of the petitioners claiming to be residents of the colonies adjacent to these flyovers, filed writ petitions.