Supreme Court Stays Opening Of Road Outside Punjab CM's Residence In Chandigarh | Here's The Reason

Chandigarh: The Supreme Court on Friday stayed the opening of a road outside Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann's residence in Chandigarh. The road has been closed since the 1980s. The order was passed by a bench of Justices Sanjiv Khanna and Dipankar Datta.

The bench noted that both the Centre and Punjab government have opposed the opening of the road owing to a threat perception, reported PTI. The plea was filed by the Punjab government.

The SC was hearing an appeal filed by Punjab’s AAP govt challenging April 22 Punjab and Haryana HC order directed the Chandigarh Director General of Police or Senior Superintendent of Police to formulate a plan to ease the traffic congestion by opening Naya Gaon Road in front of the Punjab Chief Minister’s residence on an experimental basis from May 1.. The Punjab government raised security and threat perception.

The bench sought a response from the administration of the Union Territory of Chandigarh by September 2. The apex court noted that the road was closed in the 1980s during the height of terrorism in Punjab.

On April 22, the Punjab and Haryana High Court ordered the opening of the 500-metre road, connecting Sukhna Lake to Nayagaon in Chandigarh, on a trial basis from May 1.

The high court had also directed the Chandigarh Police to engage traffic experts to prepare a traffic management plan for the road that was to be opened from 7 am to 7 pm on working days, reported PTI.

People commuting between Nayagaon and Sukhna Lake have been forced to take long detours via adjacent sectors of the city since the closure of the road.

(With inputs from PTI)