Remove parking lots under flyovers within three months: Bombay High Court to state

The Bombay High Court has given a three-month ultimatum to the state government for removing parking lots operating under flyovers in Mumbai, Thane and Navi Mumbai area.

A division bench of justices Abhay Oka and CV Bhadang gave the directions while hearing public interest litigation filed by city residents Shaukat Ali Betgeri and Mohsin Shaikh. The petition claimed that there are several flyovers under which not only parking is allowed, but private entities are also allowed to collect a parking fee.

The PIL claimed this “callousness” on part of authorities was in violation of not only a Bombay HC judgment, but also a decision taken by the government in 2008. The decision had said: “For security reasons, parking under flyovers should forthwith be discontinued as there is every possibility of destruction of flyovers and the space below flyovers should be given to entrepreneurs for the purpose of beautification/landscaping and maintenance thereof.”

The court after going through the previous order and the government policy noted that if the government now sees no threat perception then it can alter its own policy or move court for vacating it order. Until then the government will have to act and remove the parking under flyovers.