Indore civic body begins expansion work on BRTS corridor

The Indore Municipal Corporation (IMC) has started work on the 15,000 square feet of land situated alongside the Bus Rapid Transit System (BRTS) near Press Complex on Tuesday.

The Indore Municipal Corporation (IMC) has started work on the 15,000 square feet of land situated alongside the Bus Rapid Transit System (BRTS) near Press Complex on Tuesday.

Mayor Malini Gaud and municipal commissioner Manish Singh inspect land acquired on AB Road for BRTS expansion (Shankar Mourya/HT photo)

One week ago, the IMC had won a legal battle in the Supreme Court against the Waghmare family, who had been refusing to hand over the land for expansion of the BRTS.

On Tuesday, the IMC marked the land that has come in their possession, cut down the trees on the land and also started construction of the boundary wall.

With acquisition of this land, the bottle neck along the BRTS corridor between Free Press House and Shrimaya hotel would be removed. The road is now around 100 feet wide and will become around 200 feet after this land is included as part of the BRTS corridor.

Gaud said that along with widening of the road, a cycle track and footpath would also be constructed. “Storm water lines and drainage lines would also be laid and connected to the main lines. This would end the waterlogging that takes place during heavy rains along this stretch,” she said.

Mayor Malini Gaud inspected the land on Tuesday evening and also met the Waghmare family. When asked about granting of certificate of appreciation to the family, the mayor said, “We won the order from the court, so no certificate would be given. The visit was a courtesy call.”

The district administration had been embroiled in a legal fight with the Waghmare family over the plot for over a decade, when the plan for BRTS was conceived. Even though a large number of people whose residences came along the BRT corridor had voluntarily handed over land to the administration, the Waghmare family had refused to hand over their land and had moved court. The Supreme Court finally settled the case on November 29, ruling in favour of IMC.

Even though the IMC won the case, it has offered to construct a boundary wall for the property, before starting construction of the road.

The judgement

The Apex Court dismissed several petitions challenging the provisions of Madhya Pradesh Municipal Corporation Act 1956, which empowers civic bodies to acquire private land for road widening as per master plans.

The division bench of justices JS Khehar and Arun Kumar Mishra held that power of acquiring private land for road widening purpose for execution of city’s master plan is vested with the local municipal body.

A total of 13 petitions were moved before the Supreme Court challenging the provisions 305, 306 and 387 of the Act as ultra vires. While nine petitions were moved from Bhopal, four petitions were from Indore. The petitions were moved against acquisition of land by municipal corporations for road widening in Bhopal and Indore.