World · South & Central Asia · 3 hrs ago
Karnataka High Court orders BMRCL to protect access to affected properties
The Karnataka High Court ordered BMRCL to protect access to properties affected by metro land acquisition.
The ruling followed a case by Ellis Fashion Exports, whose property on Bannerghatta Road was left without road access after land was acquired for Jayadeva Hospital Metro Station.
The court found parts of BMRCL’s Way Leave Policy unconstitutional, including rules allowing it to end access without notice and exclude compensation or alternatives.
BMRCL must assess access and essential services before disruption and consult affected owners about workable solutions.
It must provide Ellis Fashion Exports with permanent access free of charge, and pay the company ₹10 lakh in costs.
If replacement access cannot reasonably be provided, BMRCL must explain why and consider other lawful options, including acquiring the remaining property; its managing director must issue instructions to ensure the ruling is followed.
The Karnataka High Court directed BMRCL to assess how metro land acquisitions could affect access to the remaining parts of properties.
The court declared unconstitutional several provisions of BMRCL’s Way Leave Policy, including rules allowing it to end access without notice or compensation.
The ruling followed a petition by Ellis Fashion Exports, whose property on Bannerghatta Road lost its road-facing frontage to the Jayadeva Hospital Metro Station project.
BMRCL must provide the company permanent access free of cost and pay ₹10 lakh in costs.
The court also directed BMRCL to consult affected owners and consider workable arrangements before disrupting access or essential services.
- Who
- The Karnataka High Court, in a case brought by M/s Ellis Fashion Exports Private Limited against BMRCL.
- What
- The court ordered BMRCL to protect access to affected properties and declared certain Way Leave Policy provisions unconstitutional.
- When
- November 9, 2026.
- Where
- Karnataka; the affected commercial property is on Bannerghatta Road, beside the Jayadeva Hospital Metro Station project.
- Why
- The acquisition left the petitioner’s property without access. The court said BMRCL should assess and address such effects before disrupting access or services.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
BMRCL acquired the road-facing frontage of Ellis Fashion Exports’ Bannerghatta Road property, leaving it landlocked.
The Karnataka High Court partly allowed the company’s petition and issued directions to BMRCL.
- Petitioner
- M/s Ellis Fashion Exports Private Limited
- Affected property
- Bannerghatta Road
- Metro station project
- Jayadeva Hospital Metro Station
- Costs imposed on BMRCL
- ₹10 lakh
- Permanent access
- Free of cost and without an agreement for a fixed term
What people are saying
The owners whose property has been left without access “should not be kept indefinitely in uncertainty
If the BMRCL considers that effective replacement access cannot reasonably be provided, it must communicate its reasons to the affected owner and consider, in accordance with law, whether acquisition of the remaining property or another lawful solution is appropriate.