A division bench of Justice N J Pandya and Justice J A Patil on Friday vacated an interim stay granted on the construction of this 300 metres of expressway patch that had been granted in May 1999.

The bench had been hearing a petition filed by Chiman Narayan Taras and others who had challenged the alignment of the Mumbai-Pune Expressway at their village, after the acquisition of lands for the Expressway had been completed and there was no objection from the villages.

According to the petitioner's counsel Avinash Shiwade, a year after the formalities were complete in 1995, the State announced its decision to change the alignment. The changed alignment meant acquisition of wells and fertile lands of about 45 families by the State.

The petitioners alleged that the change was being effected by the State Government in order to save one K PBani's constructions which included his farmhouses and unauthorised constructions with swimming pools at Devi Wan. It was alleged that Bani was the business partner of Girish Vyas, son-in-law of former chief minister Manohar Joshi. However, it was the contention of the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC), the agency that has undertaken the construction, that the change in alignment would in fact result in cost savings.

The bench found merit in the MSRDC's arguments and rejected the contentions of the petitioners. The petition was therefore dismissed.