Nagpur High Court Directs State Government on Parking Plaza Proposal
The Nagpur Bench of the Bombay High Court has taken a significant step to address the persistent parking crisis at the Civil Lines district court complex. On Thursday, the court explicitly asked the Maharashtra state government whether a multi-level parking plaza could be constructed along the nullah stretch between the old high court building and Nyay Mandir.
Chronic Congestion Disrupts Court Operations
This inquiry stems from a long-standing issue where haphazard and excessive parking has severely disrupted the daily functioning of the court. The bench, comprising Justices Anil Kilor and Raj Wakhode, highlighted how the chaotic parking situation obstructs critical access for ambulances and fire brigade vehicles, posing serious safety risks and operational hurdles.
The court's direction came during the hearing of a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by former district bar association secretary Manoj Sable, represented by counsel Shreerang Bhandarkar. The PIL specifically seeks improvements to the infrastructure on the district court premises to alleviate these problems.
Intervention and Historical Context
Adding weight to the proceedings, former district bar association president Kamal Satuja filed an intervention through counsel Sejal Lakhani, further emphasizing the detrimental impact of the parking chaos on court activities. The bench recalled that on April 5, 2018, it had already directed authorities to urgently implement a proposal for a multi-level ‘pay and park’ facility along the nullah.
In a previous hearing, the court had specifically questioned whether parking could be planned over the nullah adjacent to the court and whether constructing a multi-storey parking structure at that site was technically feasible. Responding to this, the state government informed the court that the superintending engineer of the public works department was actively examining the feasibility of such a construction.
Court Sets Deadline for Concrete Response
Taking note of the state's submission, the bench has now ordered that a detailed and concrete reply be placed on record by February 9. The court directed the superintending engineer to submit a comprehensive response, ensuring that the matter progresses toward a viable solution.
This development underscores the judiciary's proactive approach in tackling infrastructure deficiencies that impede legal proceedings. The proposed multi-level parking plaza over the nullah represents a potential innovative solution to decongest the area, enhance safety, and restore smooth court operations in Nagpur's Civil Lines district.
