Uttarakhand HC Approves Relocation of Gandhi, Pant Statues in Nainital

The Uttarakhand High Court on Friday greenlit the Nainital district administration’s plan to relocate the iconic statues of Mahatma Gandhi and Govind Ballabh Pant to ease traffic congestion and enhance pedestrian movement in the bustling tourist town. The division bench of Chief Justice G. Narendar and Justice Alok Kumar Verma approved the move while disposing of a public interest litigation (PIL) that challenged the decision, alleging misuse of public funds under a Nainital beautification program.

The court directed that the statues, located at Gandhi Chowk and Pant Park for decades, be reinstalled within four months at new sites 15 meters from their original locations. The relocation aims to decongest key areas, addressing chronic traffic issues in the hill station, which sees 25 lakh tourists annually. The district magistrate was also authorized to repair the statues, ensuring their preservation during the process.

The Gandhi statue has already been removed, with Pant’s relocation scheduled to follow. The court emphasized that the plan aligns with public interest, prioritizing traffic management and pedestrian safety. The PIL, filed by local activist Rajesh Joshi, claimed the Rs 2 crore beautification project was a pretext for wasteful expenditure, but the bench found the administration’s rationale sound, citing urban planning needs. The decision marks a step toward balancing Nainital’s heritage with its growing infrastructure demands.

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