Mumbai: The Bombay High Court has dismissed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) , challenging the reconstruction of the Wankhede Stadium and Garware Club House in South Mumbai, observing that all necessary permissions were obtained from statutory authorities before the reconstruction work began.
The court noted, “There is nothing on record to indicate that the construction of the stadium posed any threat to the railway line.”
“The work has been completed, and a completion certificate has been issued,” a bench of Chief Justice Alok Aradhe and Justice Sandeep Marne said in its recent order.
The PIL, filed in 2009 by activist Amit Maru, raised concerns regarding safety risks due to the stadium’s proximity to the Western Railway line, as well as alleged violations of environmental and town planning regulations during the reconstruction.
Maru’s petition raised issues about environmental clearances, particularly regarding the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) conditions requiring a “green belt” around the stadium. However, the court found no evidence to support the claim that the construction violated any provision of law.
“The Maharashtra Coastal Zone Management Authority (MCZMA) had already recommended the project from an environmental perspective,” the court noted.