HC asks Bharat Petroleum to vacate land for metro construction

The Delhi High Court today asked Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) to vacate the land opposite Hyatt Hotel here for construction of a metro station.
While rejecting the plea moved by BPCL, seeking stay on construction of Bhikaji Cama Place metro station, a bench of Justice Manmohan said that "the project can't be stalled as it is demand of public".
"This project can not be stalled due to you (BPCL). I understand that you and your employees will suffer due to it. But the project is of public interest. It can not be halted," the bench said, asking BPCL to vacate the land in six weeks.

BPCL, however, sought more time on the ground that it has a CNG filling station there.
Justice Manmohan refused to grant time and said "you have to hand over the land immediately. I can not help it. It's a public demand and you will have to do it".
The court also said this matter is pending since 2011.

Meanwhile, the court directed the BPCL to file damage claim if any and also asked land department and metro to take care of their demand.
The court's direction came on a plea filed by Land and Development Department, seeking direction to vacate the petrol pump owned by BPCL due to ongoing construction of metro line for Mukundpur-Yamuna Vihar corridor metro line, which has a deadline of 2015.

The site was required by the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) for construction of the corridor, which was stopped due to existing petrol pump.
Indian Oil Corporation and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited have already shifted their fuel pump.
The 56 km stretch, which envisages connecting north, west and east Delhi with each other, is part of the ambitious Phase-III project of the DMRC.
With 35 stations and a record length of 56 km, this would become the longest corridor of the Delhi Metro after the Huda City Centre-Jehangir Puri Line.