A division bench of Administrative Judge Vijaykumar Shukla and Justice Binodkumar Dwivedi took up the matter after the government failed to file a response in the previous hearing. Lawyers representing the metro authority were also absent at that time, prompting the court to seek clarity on the project’s status.
Petitioner Kishore Kodwani argued that the planned route from Bengali Square to the airport could cause long-term damage to Indore’s cultural and architectural heritage. He pointed out that major landmarks such as the High Court, Rani Sarai, and Rajwada fall within the proposed stretch and could face structural risks during excavation. Kodwani said no approval has been taken from the Archaeological Department, nor has the matter been placed before the District Planning Committee.
The PIL further raised environmental concerns, warning that large-scale tree cutting would be unavoidable if underground or elevated corridors were built. Kodwani said thousands of parrots roost on the mature trees at Regal Square and would be displaced if the area is cleared for construction. The court instructed the Metro Corporation to file a detailed response addressing these issues.
The petition also highlighted delays in finalizing the route. A meeting attended by Minister Kailash Vijayvargiya, city representatives, and Additional Chief Secretary Sanjay Dubey had earlier assured that the alignment would be decided within 15 days. More than three weeks later, no final plan has been approved. Officials stated that opting for an underground stretch would increase the project cost by an estimated ₹900 crore.
The case will be heard again after the administration submits the required report, which is expected to determine the next steps for the metro’s implementation.
