HC refuses to stall demolition for Kurla road-widening

Mumbai: Traffic jams are the rule of the day, the Bombay high court observed on Friday, refusing to grant relief against the demolition of illegal structures on the 

road at Kajupada Pipeline, Kurla, which are coming in the way of road-widening. 
    The Kajupada Traders Welfare Association moved a bench headed by Justice S C Dharmadhikari "requesting breathing time'', saying the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation, without issuing a notice, had reached the spot for a demolition. 
    The high court had on September 30 disposed of their plea, recording BMC's undertaking that fully affected structures of eligible occupants will be given alternative accommodation and those partly hit will be locally accommodated or compensated. 
    Their advocate, Pradeep Thorat, said, "The bulldozers have arrived.'' He expressed apprehension that they will demolish structures more than needed for road-widening. 
    The judges refused to grant relief. "Public interest is at stake. The public want proper roads. How are we to balance this?'' asked Dharmadhikari. 
    BMC's advocate Trupti Puranik said they were demolishing structures partly hit and details were on the civic body's website a month before.

MAKING WAY: The road at Kajupada Pipeline, Kurla, which the BMC wants to widen