Mumbai, May 7 (UNI) The Bombay High Court on Wednesday refused to stay ongoing construction work related to the proposed passenger jetty and terminal facilities near the Gateway of India.

A division bench of Chief Justice Alok Aradhe and Justice M S Karnik, while refusing to grant interim stay, said in its order that “the project is in public interest”.

The bench was hearing an interim application filed by the Clean and Heritage Colaba Residents Association (CHCRA), which alleged that authorities had breached an earlier assurance by beginning piling work at the site despite promising not to demolish the sea-facing wall until June 20.

On May two, the state had assured the court that the wall near the Gateway of India, marked for demolition as part of a passenger jetty project, will not be broken before June 20.

However, the CHCRA, represented by Advocate Prerak Chaudhary, submitted that on May three, piling equipment and materials were brought back to the site.

The Association argued that “the process of fixing concrete piles into the seabed involves heavy drilling and hammering, which can cause structural damage to the sea wall and nearby heritage buildings.”

Advocate General Birendra Saraf, appearing for the state, told the court that the process for awarding the project began in July 2024, when a notice inviting bids was issued.

“Petitioners were always aware that the project entails piling work. They had, in fact, agreed that work could begin from the seaside and had raised no objection earlier,” he argued.

The state submitted that the contract was awarded on October three, 2024, and the work order was issued on October 11, 2024.

“There is no change in circumstances since the last order (May two). The petitioners are now seeking to halt the piling, which is an essential part of the project. This application is an afterthought and amounts to an abuse of the process,” Saraf said, adding that the project is to be completed in 30 months and is of vital public importance.

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