The petition seeks a stay on the ongoing work on the proposed Hutatma Chowk station, on the grounds that it was causing damage to old buildings
The Bombay High Court on Friday stayed excavation work for the Metro-3 project outside the J N Petit Institute on D N Road for two weeks, considering that it is damaging the 119-year-old building.
It also appointed a three-member committee comprising a structural engineer from IIT, an expert nominated by the institute and another by Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation Limited (MMRCL) to survey the structure. A division bench of Chief Justice Manjula Chellur and Justice N M Jamdar has asked the committee to submit its report within two weeks. The direction was given while hearing a petition filed by two trustees of the institute, with regard to the tunneling work for Metro-3.
The petition seeks a stay on the ongoing work on the proposed Hutatma Chowk station, on the grounds that it was causing damage to old buildings.
According to the petition, on August 25, a heavy limestone finial adorning a portion of the J N Petit Institute's ceiling fell down due to the constant vibrations caused by the tunneling work for the Metro.
The court had, on Thursday, indicated that it would appoint structural engineers to conduct a survey of the heritage building. Senior Advocate Fredun DeVitre, appearing for the institute, said the stay on the excavation work is temporary, and limited to the J N Petit premises and garden area, and not the entire D N Road stretch.
The Metro-3 line between Colaba and SEEPZ has been in the news for many reasons as citizens have been approaching the High Court raising grievances such as trees being cut for constructing underground stations, alleged violations of noise pollution rules by work being carried out during night hours, or adequate space for movement of emergency vehicles not being provided.
"In view of today's Honorable High Court of Bombay's order," said a spokesperson for the MMRCL, "MMRC will not undertake construction activity work in front of the JN Petit Institute building in south Mumbai. Further, a committee will be formed which will give its report within two weeks. Being a responsible organization, MMRC has taken all the necessary protocols and precautions to prevent any damage to the buildings. We will take any further measures required to avoid damage due to our construction activities in close vicinity of the building. MMRC has already deployed monitoring instruments which will be further augmented based upon the outcome of the committee's recommendations."
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