Bengaluru: The high court disposed of a public interest litigation (PIL) challenging the change in alignment of the Metro line along Outer Ring Road, ie, the Orange line.“We do not consider it apposite to entertain a public interest litigation for examining the route of a Metro line. It is for the concerned authorities to determine the same. The determination of the route of a Metro line would require consideration of various factors, including the number of commuters it would serve. However, considering that the petitioner annexed a report regarding the impact on the environment, we consider it apposite to direct the respondents to consider the same,” a division bench comprising Chief Justice Vibhu Bakhru and Justice CM Poonacha observed in its order.
Nagarabhavi Property Owners and Business Establishments Welfare Association is the petitioner. The association sought a direction to the authorities to continue the original plan of constructing the Metro rail on Outer Ring Road from Dwaraka Nagar station to Chowdeshwari Nagar station, instead of deviating from Nagarabhavi Circle to Summanhalli Cross via Vinayaka Layout, Papireddypalya and BDA Complex, Nagarbhavi.According to the petitioner, the change in alignment caused the cutting of more than 600 trees and the demolition of 600 residential and commercial buildings.Contending that maintaining the Metro line in the Outer Ring Road region would avoid such environmental damage, the petitioner sought cancellation of the alternate route plan.
