SC: Mamata government hell-bent on impeding Kolkata Metro project

NEW DELHI: Supreme Court on Monday rapped the Mamata Banerjee govt for "obstinately pursuing an anti-development agenda and being hell-bent on impeding completion of the Kolkata Metro Orange Line" by refusing to arrange traffic diversions at the Chingrighata crossing since Dec last year to facilitate installation of segment blocks on the already-erected Metro rail piers.

Appealing against a Dec 23 Calcutta HC order, the state govt told SC since assembly polls were round the corner, it should be given time till May to carry out traffic diversions for the work. "We find that West Bengal govt petition is absolutely frivolous...." the SC said.




Bengal govt petition ‘absolutely frivolous’: SC

We find that West Bengal govt petition is absolutely frivolous, which exhibits the obstinate attitude of govt authorities, who are hell-bent to delay and stall completion of the metro railway project in Kolkata,” a bench of CJI Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul M Pancholi said. The bench said it shows “complete and deliberate dereliction of duty, and complete abdication of the constitutional responsibility of a welfare state. You are running away from responsibilities, and you have completely politicised the issue for no reason”.

An indignant bench suggested that senior functionaries of the Mamata govt have got away with a lot. “Calcutta HC has been extremely magnanimous. This was a fit case where your (West Bengal’s) chief secretary, DGP and other authorities should have been subjected to some kind of action,” SC said.

The bench did not agree with the state’s appeal against the HC and said, “We find no infirmity in the order passed by the HC”. “We are sure that the HC will take adequate steps to implement its orders in a time-bound manner,” the bench said. Wounded by the stinging observations, the Bengal govt decided to withdraw the appeal, but SC rejected the plea and dismissed the appeal.

On the Mamata govt citing assembly elections to seek time till May to ensure traffic diversions, SC said, “The trial run had been done in Sept. You should have arranged for traffic diversion on two weekends. Because of your dragging of feet, you have created a situation where the model code of conduct has kicked in. It is one of the most important projects for the people of Kolkata.”

When the Bengal govt said it is willing to do the needful in May, the bench said, “Don’t come here and say you are willing. You are duty-bound. You should have put your best foot forward expeditiously. This is an important transport facility for the public. Do not politicise the issue.”

“For you (state govt), festivals are more important than development. When in Dec, the division bench was presided by the chief justice and dates were fixed for the task, you come back and tell the HC that festivals are round the corner, and hence, you cannot give traffic police support for construction of a vital transport infrastructure,” SC said. “We do not want democratically-elected govts to knock at our doors for the purpose of stalling development work. If Election Commission has no objection to the work which was ongoing on HC supervision prior to announcement of elections, we will not allow you to create elections as another bogey to stop development,” the bench said.

The Bengal govt was directed by HC on Dec 23 last year, to inform the Metro Railway by Jan 6 about the three days, or two consecutive weekends, when the traffic could be diverted for completing construction work on the metro line. “What prevented you from complying with the directions?” the bench asked.
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