Mumbai metro projects may be delayed by a year

Green tribunal’s order that Noida metro must get environmental clearance for a project may have adverse impact on Mumbai projects

While the state government is ready to start building two metro lines in the west of the city, recent directions from the National Green Tribunal (NGT), concerning environmental clearance for a metro project in Noida, are likely to have an adverse effect on metro projects in Mumbai too, and delay them at least by a year.

About a fortnight ago, the NGT directed the Noida Metro Rail Corporation (NMRC) to obtain environmental clearances for the Noida-Greater Noida line under Schedule 8b of the Environment Impact Assessment Notification, 2006, which deals with clearances for townships and construction projects that cover an area of more than 50 hectares (HT)

About a fortnight ago, the NGT directed the Noida Metro Rail Corporation (NMRC) to obtain environmental clearances for the Noida-Greater Noida line under Schedule 8b of the Environment Impact Assessment Notification, 2006, which deals with clearances for townships and construction projects that cover an area of more than 50 hectares.

The development is significant for other metro lines in the country, as they pass through urban areas and, going by NGT’s contention, come under the purview of the EIA notification. Yet, there is hope. The ministry of environment and forests is said to be planning to either modify its rules to bring more clarity about clearances or challenge NGT’s directions in the Supreme Court to exempt metro projects from environmental clearances.

According to sources close to the development, the Central Metro Act is silent on such clearances for metro projects and the ministry’s rules are liable to be interpreted differently. Incidentally, when the Noida metro case was being heard, the ministry had informed the NGT that metro and railway projects were not within purview of the EIA notification.

The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) has decided to build a 172-km metro network in and around Mumbai. It plans to start building the 18-km Metro 7 line (from Dahisar East to Andheri East) and the 18-km Metro 2A line (Dahisar to DN Nagar) after the monsoon. However, construction will be delayed by a year if MMRDA is required to get environmental clearances for these projects. MMRDA commissioner UPS Madan said, “We have come to know that the ministry is taking corrective steps in this matter. If we are asked to get environment clearances, we will have to spend considerable time obtaining them before construction can begin.”

Now, MMRDA officials are waiting for the ministry next move. If the ministry’s stand is nullified, MMRDA will have to apply for a fresh environmental clearance.

MMRDA has already filed a special leave petition in the Supreme Court against the NGT’s order to obtain environment clearances for the Mumbai Trans-Harbour Link. MMRDA officials say that according to the ministry’s guidelines, they are not supposed to obtain environment clearances for sea link projects. However, if MMRDA is asked to do so, the Rs17,800-crore sea link, for which it has invited tenders, will also be delayed significantly.