Hyderabad High Court on Thursday dismissed writ petitions challenging the Hyderabad Metro Rail works in third stretch across Greenlands-Shilparamam section and vacated interim orders.
A Division Bench of Hyderabad High Court comprising Chief Justice Kalyan Sen Jyothi Gupta and Justice P.V.Sanjay Kumar made it clear that this is an issue to be dealt with by experts and the element of public debate is not necessary.
A petition was filed by Greenlands, Ameerpet Madhuranagar, Yusufguda, SriKrishna Nagar Joint Action Committee and 20 others contending that the alignment was changed and there was no consultation with the large number of people affected.
The application of AP Tram Ways Act to this project was also contested. Then a single Judge had passed interim orders stopping all further works. This was carried to division bench. Initially another bench had permitted the HMR and L&T to carry on soil testing.
The Court observed that just because the word rail is used it can not be said that Indian Railways Act and other enactments are applicable. The bench said that the application of AP Tramways Act is not wrong and there were consultations with the public representatives and others.
The Court did not agree with the contention there was change in alignment and this was done clandestinely. The bench said that the law does not envisage public to be heard and objections considered at all stages.
Though the High Court on a writ appeal granted liberty to it to carry out the project works without acquiring the affected properties, the construction could not be undertaken in most of the areas of the disputed stretch due to narrow roads, stay on acquisition of properties and resistance from the property owners/tenants.
State Chief Minister K.Chandrasekhar Rao informed the Legislative Assembly about this development giving a boost to the Metro Rail project.