Mumbai: The state government has told Bombay high court that it has appointed four foreign technical consultants who will work out the area required for construction of the new complex at Bandra (east). A bench of Justices Abhay Oka and Amjad Sayed were informed by government advocate Bharat Mehta that one will be shortlisted for redevelopment of the Government Colony, which will include the new high court complex. Mehta said the consultants will “work out the area required, floor space index including restrictions on the number of floors to be constructed”. All four consultants are US based.
The court heard a public interest litigation about the severe crunch at the nearly 140-year-old HC building near Flora Fountain. The government said it would identify a huge plot for the HC in the proposed redevelopment of the Government Colony.
But the judges made it clear that the HC will have the last word on the area it requires. “The government may come out with a specific area but ultimately it is for the high court to come out with the area (it requires),” said Justice Oka.