Karnataka High Court issues guidelines to BMRCL for ensuring access to remaining portion of properties acquired for metro project

Bengaluru The Karnataka High Court has issued a series of directions to the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) to assess, at the planning stage itself, how land acquisition for metro projects will affect the remaining portions of the acquired properties instead of forcing property owners to seek remedies for access after acquisition.

The court has also declared as unconstitutional certain provisions of the BMRCL’s Way Leave Policy (WLP) that permits it to discontinue a way-leave facility at any time without notice, together with provisions excluding compensation, refund or alternative access upon such discontinuance.

Landlocked property Justice Suraj Govindaraj passed the order while partly allowing a petition filed by M/s Ellis Fashion Exports Private Limited, whose commercial property on Bannerghatta Road was left landlocked after the BMRCL acquired its road-facing frontage for the Jayadeva Hospital Metro Station.