HC okays Bandra-Worli sealink

Rules new route will benefit city choked with traffic.

The Bandra-Worli sealink project got the nod from Bombay High Court on Friday.

Dismissing a public interest litigation (PIL) challenging the altered alignment of the sealink project, the HC ruled that the larger public interest overshadowed any of the reliefs sought in the petition.

The PIL filed by the Save Worli Seaface Committee had contended that no environment impact assessment was done for the changed alignment of the project.

In 2001, the bridge’s length was increased from 1.2km to 4km. Petitioners’ lawyer YP Singh had argued that the city’s coastline would be destroyed by having a bridge running parallel to it. “No study has been conducted to assess how this will affect the city,” he argued.

Justice RM Lodha and Justice SJ Vajifdar, however, ruled that the sealink would benefit the city, which is choked with traffic. Noting that there was no gross violation of any statutory provisions, the judges said any delay would only further escalate the project cost.

Dismissing the allegation of corruption for the escalation of cost from Rs665.81 crore to Rs1,306.25 crore, the court said that the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation had attributed the increase to the changes in design and rise in interest on borrowings.

While the estimated interest on borrowings in 1999 was Rs84.34 crore, it is now estimated to be Rs315.66 crore.