While establishing public infrastructure government should ensure sufficient land is acquired and adequate space is earmarked for future expansion, says HC

Whenever the government establishes public infrastructure such as bus stands, railway stations, colleges, hospitals and other public institutions, it was advisable to ensure sufficient land was acquired and adequate space was earmarked for future expansion, the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court has said.

A Division Bench of Justices P. Velmurugan and K.K. Ramakrishnan said such a forward-looking approach would help avoid premature demolition, prevent the wasteful expenditure of public money and ensure the efficient and sustainable utilisation of public resources.

The court said while establishing public infrastructure, the authorities concerned should take into consideration not only the present requirements but also the possibility of future expansion. Adequate space should be provided at the initial stage itself to accommodate future needs.

Constructing infrastructure without making sufficient provision for expansion and subsequently demolishing it within a short period of five to ten years would result in the unnecessary wastage of public funds, the court said.

The court was hearing a petition filed by S. Kumar of Radhapuram in Tirunelveli district. The petitioner was a small trader who carried on business in a shop in the Nagercoil Corporation market complex in Kanniyakumari district.

He said the market complex was constructed in 2015 and inaugurated for public use in 2017. Generally, public buildings constructed by the government authorities were designed and engineered to remain structurally sound for a period of 30 to 50 years.

However, even before the completion of 10 years from the date on which the market complex was opened for public use, the authorities were proposing to demolish it and construct a new structure in its place, he said.

The State submitted that out of the total 260 shops in the market complex, 150 shops had already been demolished for the purpose of expanding the bus stand. The area so vacated had now been earmarked for the construction of a new market complex and shops had also been allotted to the persons whose shops were demolished, it was submitted. Taking note of the submission, the petition was dismissed.