The Bombay High Court has directed the removal of roadside stalls obstructing work related to Mumbai Metro Line 2-B, stating that large public infrastructure projects cannot be delayed due to objections raised by a few individuals.
The order was passed by Justice Jitendra Jain while hearing interim applications filed by N. Taranath Shetty, who is the original plaintiff and appellant in connected appeals against the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC).
The applications challenged a notice issued in November 2025 by the Assistant Engineer of the civic body directing the applicant to relocate his roadside stall to facilitate construction activities linked to the Metro Line 2-B station project.
According to court records, the applicants approached the court after the expiry of the seven-day deadline mentioned in the civic notice. During the proceedings, the Corporation sought urgent directions from the court to ensure that the ongoing metro construction work was not disrupted.
The BMC informed the court that it had offered 27 alternative locations to the applicant for relocation of the stall. However, the applicant reportedly declined all the proposed sites, claiming that they were not commercially viable or suitable for business operations.
While hearing the matter, the High Court observed that the Metro project was an important public infrastructure initiative for Mumbai and held that public interest must take precedence over individual inconvenience.
The court acknowledged the livelihood concerns raised by the applicants but directed that the stall be removed within 10 days. It further permitted the Corporation to seek police assistance if the structure was not vacated voluntarily within the specified period.
The court also stated that if the applicant failed to comply with the order, the Corporation would be at liberty to demolish the stall, take possession of the site and hand it over for Metro Line 2-B construction work.
During the hearing, the applicant later informed the court that the stall would be vacated voluntarily before the deadline fixed by the High Court.
Source: Prop News TIme
