Gujarat High Court yesterday dismissed a petition filed against the construction of metro rail in Surat city from 39 shopkeepers belonging to a municipal market in Rudrapura area. The court also ordered the shopkeepers to evict the place and clear the path for metro rail.
The bench, headed by Justice A S Supehia, explained that issuing a stay because of a petition ultimately delayed the execution of mega projects and result in damages. The bench also said that Metro Rail Project is meant for the benefit of the people and so Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC) has asked the petitioners to evict the premises.
The HC further cited an order from the Supreme Court which had asked the courts to be extremely careful while issuing a stay on mega projects. The court said entertaining such petitions not just delay the projects but also increases the cost of the projects.
In August 2021, the district court upheld the SMC’s decision to evict the shopkeepers and also the Gujarat Metro Rail Corporation’s decision to pay them Rs1.11 lakh each in reparation.
