Naveen Niwas road blockade case: Odisha Govt seeks time, next hearing on Feb 24

The Odisha government has sought additional time to file its response in a case related to the alleged obstruction of a public road in front of Naveen Niwas, the official residence of former Chief Minister and present Leader of Opposition Naveen Patnaik.

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Although the Orissa High Court had earlier directed the state government to submit its reply, no response has been filed so far, official sources said on Sunday.

Considering the request made by the state, the Orissa High Court granted additional time and fixed the matter for further hearing on the 24th of this month. The court had earlier taken note of the issue and asked the government to clarify its position regarding the alleged obstruction and its impact on public movement.

The case stems from a petition filed by Prakash Das, who alleged that the failure to remove obstructions from the Old Airport Road has been causing persistent traffic congestion. According to the petitioner, the road is a crucial arterial route connecting the Lingaraj Temple and the Bhubaneswar airport, and commuters face significant inconvenience while using this stretch on a daily basis.

The petition further alleged that one side of the road has been blocked and the carriageway narrowed under the pretext of security arrangements for Naveen Patnaik. This, the petitioner claimed, has adversely affected traffic flow and public access.

Seeking relief, the petitioner urged the court to direct the authorities to remove the obstruction and restore the road to its original condition. He argued that such a move would ease congestion and significantly benefit the general public. The matter is now awaited for further hearing, during which the state government is expected to place its response on record.