Mumbai: After failing to get urgent relief from the Bombay High Court, the residents of Colaba and Cuffe Parade have approached the Supreme Court against the order of the Bombay High Court refusing stay on the proposed passenger jetty and terminal near the Gateway of India.
Three residents of Colaba and Cuffe Parade, representing over 150 individuals and businesses, have approached the apex court seeking a stay on the piling work that has commenced at the site. The plea was filed on Wednesday and as per the Supreme Court website, it is likely to be heard next week.
The project, to be built approximately 280 metres away from the monument and near the Radio Club, includes lounges, ticket counters, offices, shops, and parking for 150 vehicles.
The residents have challenged the high court order of May 8 by which the bench headed by Chief Justice ALok Aradhe had refused to grant an interim stay on the construction, observing that the project appears to be in public interest.
The bench issued notices to relevant authorities and directed them to file detailed responses but refused to halt work for now. The next hearing is scheduled for June 16.
Just a day before that, on May 7, the HC had refused similar relief in another petition by Clean and Heritage Colaba Residents Association (CHCRA) observing that “the project is in public interest”. The CHCRA, through Advocate Prerak Chaudhary, have opposed the project.
The residents have sought an urgent stay contending that once the piling work starts, it will be nearly impossible to remove the same and will cause significant damage to the environment, apart from defacing the heritage precinct.
Their plea has challenged the project citing environmental impact, restricted public access, and traffic congestion. The petition contests various clearances granted to the project, including Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) approval by the Maharashtra Coastal Zone Management Authority (MCZMA), a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the Heritage Conservation Committee in February, and a traffic NOC issued on January 28.
Moreover, the residents have contested that there was no public consultation, despite the BMC’s NOC clearly mandating it. Residents are stakeholders too, yet no notices were issued. The residents have also raised the issue about traffic and emergency access, noting that congestion — especially during holidays — has previously blocked fire brigades and ambulances.
The Maharashtra government has also assured the high court that a section of the wall near the Gateway of India, marked for demolition as part of a passenger jetty project, will not be broken before June 20. Also, the government has clarified that it is not intended solely for VIPs but is meant for the general public too.
