Telangana HC notice to HMRL, GHMC for construction of commercial complex

HYDERABAD: The Telangana High Court directed Hyderabad Metro Rail Ltd (HMRL) and GHMC to submit their replies to a PIL complaining that Metro Rail Ltd had come up on an illegal commercial complex near the Jubilee Hills checkpost, which was causing public nuisance.

A division bench, comprising Chief Justice Ujjal Bhuyan and Justice Bhaskar Reddy, was dealing with a PIL filed by one Indrasena Chowdhary, a resident of Srinagar Colony, who submitted that the construction of a commercial building on 300 square yards in middle of Road No. 1 and Road No. 36 are leading to traffic problems and causing hardship to commuters.

He brought to the notice of the court that HMRL was violating the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in the Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act.

Petitioner’s counsel Balaji Yelamanjula submitted that the government acquired a piece of land for constructing the Metro Rail and the unused portion was for public purposes or laying roads. However, the authorities are using it for constructing a commercial complex, he said.

Earlier, when the PIL was listed before the bench, the court doubted the bonafides of the petitioner and directed him to appear on November 3. He obliged and appeared before it on Thursday.

The bench issued notice to metro rail, municipal and urban development authorities, home department and GHMC and asked them why the construction should not be stopped.