Chief Justice of India (CJI) B R Gavai on Wednesday laid the foundation stone for the new Bombay High Court complex in suburban Bandra (East) on Wednesday evening.With current heritage premises in South Mumbai’s Fort area being insufficient to meet the increasing needs of the HC, the state Public Works Department (PWD) on October 31 issued a tender notice for construction of “New Integrated High Court Complex” at Bandra Government Colony area next to Western Express Highway. Chief Justice of India (CJI) B R GavaiProject cost & deadlineAs per PWD’s tender notice, the project on 30.16 acres of land will now cost the government Rs 4,127.48 crore while the state cabinet in September had sanctioned Rs 3,750 crore for the same. The tender notice has laid down a 60 months (5 years) time limit for completion of engineering, procurement and construction of the complex. Deputy Chief Minister and state Finance Minister Ajit Pawar said at the event that the government has presently provided 15-acre of the total land and remaining will be given by the end of March, 2026. He also assured all financial assistance for the project in future.Key featuresAs per design selected by the PWD made by architect Hafeez Contractor, the new HC complex with area of more than 50 lakh square feet will have 75 advanced courtrooms with four-and-a-half metre-wide corridors and Chief Justice’s large courtroom will be beneath the main dome.The complex will also have waiting areas, judges’ chambers, residences, mediation and arbitration centre, public auditorium, conference hall, libraries for judges and lawyers, dedicated chambers for law officers, spacious rooms for bar associations, multi-level parking, recreation hall, modern facilities such as WiFi, scanning and digitisation centres and advanced fire safety protocols.The main building will have a semi-circular facade spread over a length of 450 metres and 50-metre high Ashoka Pillar and large green space in the front and large and central dome with the height of 70 metre. The facade will be between Kalanagar and Kherwadi flyovers. The complex as per Deputy CM Pawar, will have facility for car parking with a capacity of 3,750 and to park around 1,000 two-wheelers.As per HC presentation, the design of the new building drew inspiration from classical architecture and at the heart of the building there will be “a vast central atrium filled with natural light and openness” as a “sculptural centrepiece” and grand circular staircase rising through the atrium.Story continues below this adNeed for new complexRise in the number of judges, litigation has led to the need for the modern complex. While the sanctioned strength of the Bombay HC is of 94 judges, second highest in the country, it presently has 82 judges, highest in recent years, across its principal seat and benches at Nagpur, Aurangabad (in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar city), Goa (at Panaji) along with recent addition of circuit bench at Kolhapur.The construction work for the principal seat of the Bombay HC, located between Flora Fountain and Churchgate in a Gothic-style stone building began in April 1871 and was completed in 1978. It was added to the list of World Heritage Sites in 2018.The building which was built for 10 to 15 judges now houses 30-40 judges along with thousands of litigants, lawyers, court staff among others. It was constructed at Rs. 16.44 lakh and has unique carvings and statues.Other land optionsThe HC and state authorities had earlier considered the lands belonging to Mumbai Port Authority, a land at Goregaon and Wadala before narrowing down on Bandra (East) government colony land, which was first developed in 1955. Alternative was also proposed by lawyers’ associations to refurbish or reconstruct the Central Telegraph Office (CTO) and MTNL Building, situated in proximity of the present HC building as additional spaces.Story continues below this adDecision to finalise Bandra landJustice Abhay S Oka (former Supreme Court and Bombay HC judge) in January 2019 had directed the government to take a decision on offering a large and convenient plot of land for the new HC complex.The Maharashtra government had then presented a proposal to Bombay HC administration for a new high court complex at Bandra (East).The then CJI S A Bobde in May, 2021, had said that the principal seat of the HC in Mumbai was “in urgent need of a bigger and better building” and “current heritage premises were insufficient to meet the increasing needs of the HC.”The Indian Express on October 24, 2022, had first reported that the state government was planning to allot nearly 30-acre land in Bandra (East) Government Colony for the new HC complex.In April, 2024, the then CJ D K Upadhyaya of Bombay HC, while expressing displeasure over handing over of Bandra land, had asked PWD to explore availability of land in suburban Goregaon for new HC building and provide details of its accessibility from the proposed coastal road.Story continues below this adIn September, last year, the then CJI D Y Chandrachud participated in the “ground breaking” ceremony of the new HC building and stressed on ‘priority to expedite construction’.The present heritage buildingIn August, 2023, the then Chief Justice Upadhyaya had also said that the heritage and archaeological value of the current high court building should be maintained and preserved.As per sources, even after shifting of high court to Bandra judicial complex, the present heritage building will remain with HC administration and views of all stakeholders will be considered before arriving on a decision over the use of the heritage building.As per sources, even after shifting of high court to Bandra judicial complex, “it is almost certain” that the present heritage building will remain with HC administration and views of all stakeholders will be considered before arriving on a decision over the use of the heritage building.