State bows to 20,000 sq mt, HC verdict today

These developments follow the controversy over the proposed commercial exploitation of 33,000 sq mt under the flyover, which has been challenged in a public interest petition filed by the Bombay Environmental Action Group (BEAG). The BEAG’s contection is that commercial exploitation of 33,000 sq mt under the mammoth flyover would in fact be counterproductivee as it would only increase traffic congestion in the area.

The state government, which is scheduled to report the agreement reached with Jog Engineering to the court on Wednesday, has now decided to allow the contractor to develop 20,000 sq mt as commercial space while the remaining 13,000 sq mt would be used for government purposes. This space, the government, proposes to tell the court, will be used for purposes that would not create traffic congestion. As per the agreement, the government will also compensate the contractor for the shortfall of 13,000 sq mt.

The high court-appointed committee had recommended that the contractor be allowed to develop only 9,000 sq m for commercial exploitation and the remaining area only after concurrent monitoring on the environment impact by an independent assessment committee. The case will come up before a division bench comprising of Chief Justice B P Singh and Justice N J Pandya on Wednesday.

The court had earlier observed that there is a consensus that the flyover and commercial complex should be perceived as two independent components as they have different utilities. Also, considering the social concern of the need for a flyover at Andheri, steps should be taken accordingly.