Telangana High Court Clears Way for Metro Corridor-VI Property Acquisition

HC Lifts Stay on Property Acquisition for Metro Corridor-VI

Justice N.V. Shravan Kumar of the Telangana High Court has vacated a previous order that restrained authorities from awarding compensation for properties being acquired for the Metro Rail Project’s Phase-II Corridor-VI. The corridor, which will connect Mahatma Gandhi Bus Station to Chandrayangutta, is a key part of the city’s planned Metro expansion.

Public Interest and Connectivity at Stake

The judge emphasized that halting the project would disrupt the continuity and efficiency of the Metro Rail network, depriving citizens of an integrated public transportation system. He noted that the project's non-implementation would undermine efforts to establish a seamless network linking various parts of the city, ultimately affecting the larger public interest.

Court Defers to Authorities on Technical Matters

Referring to a Supreme Court precedent, Justice Shravan Kumar stated that decisions regarding the alignment and land acquisition for infrastructure projects fall within the purview of the authorities, who must conduct thorough surveys. He underscored that courts are not equipped to assess the technical feasibility or public utility of such projects, leaving such determinations to the expertise of the implementing agencies.

The decision clears a significant hurdle for the Metro Rail’s Phase-II expansion, which aims to enhance urban mobility in Hyderabad.

Source: The Hindu