Central Vista: SC refuses to interfere in construction amid Covid

The Supreme Court has refused to hear a plea seeking to halt the construction of Central Vista Avenue Redevelopment Project amid the second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic but gave liberty to petitioners to approach the Delhi High Court for urgent listing of the matter. The Supreme Court was hearing the appeal against the May 4 order of the high court, which had listed the PIL for hearing on May 17, saying it wants to first go through what the Supreme Court has deliberated in its judgement of January 5, giving the go-ahead for the project. Petitioners Sohail Hashmi, a historian and documentary filmmaker and Anya Malhotra, who works as a translator, have claimed that the project can be a super spreader if allowed to continue during the pandemic. Labours are being transported from Sarai Kale Khan and Karol Bagh area to Raj Path and Central Vista, where construction work is going on. This enhances the chances of the spread of Covid-19 infection among them, Senior Advocate Siddharth Luthra told the media. The project involves construction activity on Rajpath and the surrounding lawns from India Gate to Rashtrapati Bhawan. The project envisages constructing a new Parliament House, a new residential complex that will house the Prime Minister and the Vice-President, as well as several new office buildings and a Central Secretariat to accommodate Ministry offices. Image SourceAlso read: Central Vista project to continue amid second wave of Covid-19 Also read: Supreme Court will hear plea to stop Central Vista works