In a progressive move to address parking woes while promoting environmental sustainability, the Punjab and Haryana High Court has ordered the installation of green paver blocks in the green belt area adjacent to the court complex, facilitating vehicle parking for visitors.
The decision, articulated by Chief Justice Sheel Nagu and Justice Sumeet Goel, comes in the wake of a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by Vinod Dhaterwal, an office-bearer of the High Court employees’ association. The PIL highlighted the urgent need for infrastructure development due to increasing traffic congestion and space limitations at the court.
Rejecting the Chandigarh administration’s claim that the area, designated as a green belt, could not be converted into a parking lot, the bench emphasized the dual benefits of restoring green cover while accommodating parking needs through the use of permeable green pavers. These pavers are designed to allow rainwater to seep through, thereby replenishing the underground water table and reducing runoff.
The court noted that the area experiences extreme vehicular congestion, particularly between 9 AM and noon and from 2 PM to 4:30 PM. The situation is further complicated by the High Court complex’s proximity to the UNESCO World Heritage site, Capitol Complex, which imposes additional restrictions on structural changes.
Currently, a makeshift ‘kutcha’ parking area on the site accommodates 200-300 cars, a system previously managed by the Bar Association through a fee-based arrangement halted by the court last year. This area, despite being a temporary solution, has been in use for nearly five years and is located near the thick greenery towards Sukhna Lake road.
The bench’s directive also includes the deployment of adequate traffic personnel to manage the flow of vehicles during court hours effectively. The proposed green parking initiative is part of a broader, though currently stalled, development plan that initially envisaged the construction of multi-storey buildings to expand the High Court’s capacity. This plan was put on hold after the Capitol Complex’s designation as a World Heritage site in 2016.
