In a major setback to the state government, the High Court of Karnataka on Friday stayed the process of finalising tenders for the controversial elevated corridor project, and if tenders are finalised, it restrained the authorities from going ahead with the project until June 3.

A division bench comprising acting Chief Justice L Narayana Swamy and Justice P S Dinesh Kumar on Friday passed an interim order while hearing a petition filed by the Namma Bengaluru Foundation (NBF) and Citizen Action Forum which had argued that the project had not obtained approval from the Bengaluru Metropolitan Planning Committee (BMPC).

Previously, the high court had directed not to precipitate the matter until the case on the functioning of BMPC is disposed of.

However, the petitioners submitted to the court that the government is pursuing the project and inviting bids, specifically with respect to the elevated corridor project, and negotiations are in progress despite the directions of the court.

In response to the petitioners’ submission, the government counsel appraised the court that the said tenders were floated prior to the interim order by the high court. The bench, in its order, said, “We direct that there shall be no finalisation of the tender if it is not already finalised, and even if the tender is already finalised, no work shall be undertaken till next date of hearing on 3rd June.”