Seek public opinion on metro rail: High Court to Hyderabad Metro Rail Limited
Times of India, Apr 18, 2012
HYDERABAD: A division bench of the high court on Tuesday asked both the authorities of Hyderabad Metro Rail Limited (HMRL), the state government and various other stakeholders including the owners of the properties which are being acquired for the project, to work out within a week a model through which the responsibility of eliciting public opinion is fulfilled and the project moves from its initial phase to the next stage.
The bench was hearing an appeal filed by HMRL against the order of a single judge staying the ongoing project work. The judge found fault with the authorities for not hearing the public before going ahead with the project work. The stay was granted following a petition filed by the owners of the properties.
The metro rail authorities showed the details of the project to the bench comprising Chief JusticeMadan B Lokur and Justice P V Sanjay Kumar on Tuesday through a power point presentation.
D V Sitarama Murthy, senior counsel for the property owners, said that the project was completely shrouded in mystery as the officials displayed a scant regard for a democratic approach. "Their arrogance in refusing even to listen to us is disturbing," he said. "Their attempt to describe it as a tramway is also not correct," he said and added that the project was very much a metro rail. The dangerous curves in the proposed line between Ameerpet and Shilparamam were a result of change of alignments. In crowded areas, the options of underground rail should be considered, he said. The chief justice asked both the authorities and the petitioners to work out a model through which public opinion on the project could be elicited. "It's not possible to hear half of Hyderabad now. Therefore, it would be better for each side to nominate experts to put forward their opinion during the public hearing," he said.
The bench was hearing an appeal filed by HMRL against the order of a single judge staying the ongoing project work. The judge found fault with the authorities for not hearing the public before going ahead with the project work. The stay was granted following a petition filed by the owners of the properties.
The metro rail authorities showed the details of the project to the bench comprising Chief JusticeMadan B Lokur and Justice P V Sanjay Kumar on Tuesday through a power point presentation.
D V Sitarama Murthy, senior counsel for the property owners, said that the project was completely shrouded in mystery as the officials displayed a scant regard for a democratic approach. "Their arrogance in refusing even to listen to us is disturbing," he said. "Their attempt to describe it as a tramway is also not correct," he said and added that the project was very much a metro rail. The dangerous curves in the proposed line between Ameerpet and Shilparamam were a result of change of alignments. In crowded areas, the options of underground rail should be considered, he said. The chief justice asked both the authorities and the petitioners to work out a model through which public opinion on the project could be elicited. "It's not possible to hear half of Hyderabad now. Therefore, it would be better for each side to nominate experts to put forward their opinion during the public hearing," he said.
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