Modi’s ‘Dream Projects’ gets Green Signal from The Supreme Court | The Readers Time |
Supreme Court has finally approved the multi-crore Central Vista redevelopment project, on Tuesday with a majority of judgement. A panel of Justices, A.M. Khanwilkar, who headed the panel with Dinesh Maheshwari and Sanjiv Khanna marked the 2-1 judgment with Justice Khanwilkar and Justice Maheshwari forming the majority. Justice Khanna pronounced a separate verdict.
The project’s purpose is to revamp and redevelop the 86 acres land in Lutyen’s Delhi, the nation’s power corridor, consisting a new Parliament building, a common Central Secretariat and a renovated Rajpath stretching from Rashtrapati Bhavan to India Gate. The “Prime Minister’s dream project” was announced on September 13, 2019 by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, to redevelop the nation’s heart.
Even though a petition was filed by Rajeev Suri in April 2020, challenging the Centre’s change-of-land-use notification of March 2020 with regard to the 86 acres of land, the Supreme Court said exercise of power by Centre under DDA Act is just and proper and modifications in land use of master plan 2021, including notifications of March, stand confirmed. Justice Khanna was with the majority opinion, regarding the notice inviting bids for the project.
Central Vista project also needs to get approval from the Heritage Conservation Committee, before starting construction work.
Project proponents will set up smog towers as an integral part of the Central Vista project and use environment friendly construction material, said the court on Tuesday.
The environment ministry will also pass similar directions for any future projects.
The Central Vista revamp, announced in September 2019 envisages a new triangular Parliament building, with a seating capacity of 900 to 1,200 MPs that is to be constructed by August 2022 when the country will be celebrating its 75th Independence Day.
