The Centre told the Delhi High Court that the petition filed before it against the work on both sides of Rajpath under the Central Vista Redevelopment project was an attempt to stall the project under the garb of "public interest". In an affidavit, Executive Engineer, Central Vista Project Division-III, CPWD, Rajiv Sharma said the petition before the High Court is a "sheer abuse of the process of law" and "one more attempt to stall the project" against the backdrop of the ongoing Covid-19 situation.

The affidavit said the tender for the work, meant for providing public amenities, and pedestrian underpass etc, was awarded to Shapoorji Pallonji and Company, in January 2021. The work was supposed to be completed within 10 months by November 2021. The affidavit said it may not be out of place to mention that the said project was not inaugurated by the Prime Minister, contrary to what has been stated in para 13 of the writ petition filed before the High Court.