PUNE: The Bombay High Court on October 4 directed the Maharashtra Metro Rail Corporation Ltd to stop the Metro work in Kalyani Nagar as the company had not taken permission of the Central Government for the realigned route as per the Metro Railways (Construction of Works) Act 1978.
“No work pertaining to the proposed changed alignment of the Metro work in the city of Pune would be carried out till the Central Government issues notification under Section 32 of the said Act,” states the order issued by bench of CJ Pradeep Nandrajog and Justice Bharati Dangre.
The Line 2 of Metro (Civil Court to Ramwadi) was realigned and deviated from Nagar Road to Kalyani Nagar, as the National Monument Authority denied permission for the route opposite Aga Khan Palace, which is a protected monument.
“There is a well laid down procedure and it should be followed. We are not objecting to the Metro but it has to be citizen-friendly with a futuristic approach,” said Raja Narasimhan, a resident of Kalyani Nagar, who is one of the petitioners.
Resident and Tree Act expert Satya Natrajan said, “It is a temporary relief and it is still a long fight for us. However, it has reinstated our faith in the judiciary. It brings a check on stakeholders if they are not following the procedures.”
Metro officials have said that they are yet to receive the copy of the HC order and are unable to give a statement due to the ongoing Model Code of Conduct in the State.
