When CJ hit Nainital road to find remedy for traffic mess

DEHRADUN: In order to get a first-hand account of the parking and traffic issues in Nainital, one of Uttarakhand's most-visited tourist destinations and also one of the most chaotic in terms of traffic, Chief Justice G Narendar along with fellow HC judge Alok Mahra, conducted an on-ground inspection. The CJ reviewed traffic management, parking facilities and waste disposal systems in the town, which has been housing the HC ever since Uttarakhand was carved out of UP in 2000.

Significantly, an ongoing debate on the possible expansion and shifting of the HC began last May, when a bench headed by then-CJ Ritu Bahri expressed concerns about infrastructure constraints in Nainital and directed the registrar general to set up a portal to collect opinions on shifting the HC to Rishikesh.

The city visit by the judges marks the first time a sitting CJ has personally examined Nainital's infrastructure. The judges directed authorities to improve parking measures, address waste management issues and devise a "permanent traffic solution through collaborative efforts".

A day prior to the visit, the CJ, while hearing a PIL, had indicated his intention to personally inspect the town.