In a significant security move ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Mumbai visit, the Bombay High Court on Monday ordered an immediate halt to construction at an under-construction high-rise in Colaba, located close to the naval air station INS Shikra.
A division bench of Justices Ravindra Ghuge and Abhay J Mantri directed that no workers be deployed at the Jadhavji Mansion site from midnight until further orders. The Prime Minister is scheduled to land at the INS Shikra helipad on Tuesday morning.
The order came while hearing a petition filed by the local military authority through its Commanding Officer. The plea stated that the building is situated just 246 metres from the sensitive naval air station and VVIP heliport — well within the 500-metre restricted zone that requires mandatory clearance from defence authorities.
Appearing for the military authorities, advocate Mihir Rajshekhar Govilkar argued that the structure poses a “direct threat to national security and VVIP heliport operations.” “The building provides unrestricted line of sight. VIP movements are top priority. Other defence aircraft movements are also visible. It’s in plain sight,” he said.
The petition contends that the Planning Authority granted permissions without obtaining a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the Indian Navy, as required under Ministry of Defence guidelines dated May 18, 2011. While a 2015 clarification exempted projects approved before that date, any height increase after 2011 required fresh defence clearance. The Navy has alleged that amendments allowed additional floors without such approval, with the structure now reaching ground-plus-23 levels.
The court emphasised that security considerations take precedence over commercial interests. “You can’t sacrifice the Prime Minister’s security just because you want to make money,” the bench told the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation, adding that authorities cannot “walk away” from responsibility where national security is concerned. The matter will be heard next on February 18.
Source: Hindustan Times
