BANGALORE: While according permission for the underground metro project between the Vidhana Soudha and the High Court, the High Court on Tuesday directed the state government to complete the Cubbon Park metro stretch within two years.
A division bench comprising Chief Justice J S Khehar and Justice Manjula Chellur allowed two applications filed by Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) seeking approval for the final plan to construct the metro project through Cubbon Park and permission to construct a temporary road on the premises of the High Court to divert traffic from Ambedkar Veedhi till the completion of the project. The court directed BMRCL that the entire land shall be restored to its original state after completion of the project.
The court also gave permission to construct an ancillary building for the metro near Cubbon Park. But the court directed BMRCL and the state government not to let out the building for commercial use.
The court directed that BMRCL should replant 106 trees that will be axed near the Vidhana Soudha and the High Court, after completion of the project. As many as 29 trees will be lost permanently after the construction of the ancillary building, senior counsel DLN Rao, who is assisting the court, submitted.
The court observed that the existence of essential infrastructure in the nature of the metro station would help transportation of large number of commuters. The project is coming up on Ambedkar Veedhi and so will not affect the green cover of the park. The court directed that before starting the diversion road, authorities should re-lay railings around the High Court to ensure security.