Delhi High Court Upholds Demolition for Crucial Metro Project

The Delhi High Court dismissed a plea to halt the demolition of kiosks near the Namo Bharat Metro Rail Station in Sarai Kale Khan, emphasizing the critical nature of the Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) project.

Spanning 82 kilometers, the RRTS corridor aims to significantly reduce travel time between Delhi and Meerut to less than an hour. The court, comprising Justices Prathiba M Singh and Rajneesh Kumar Gupta, noted that the 'tehbazari' certificate issued to kiosk owners was temporary, ordering them to evacuate their belongings. The demolition aligns with expanding the Metro line, considered a public interest initiative by the National Capital Region Transport Corporation (NCRTC).

The petition, filed by two stall occupiers, was dismissed on grounds of the temporary nature of their licenses, while the court urged authorities to consider alternative sites for displaced vendors. The NCRTC argued the demolition, initiated on May 6, adhered to Supreme Court orders, asserting it was crucial for the RRTS project's progress.

(With inputs from agencies.)