Digging on metro 2B route for soil testing: MMRDA

Mumbai: The digging work being carried out on the metro 2B route from Nanavati Hospital to Juhu is only for the purpose of soil testing, the MMRDA has informed the Bombay high court. The MMRDA has also claimed that it does not require any sanctions from any authority to undertake any construction or drilling work after signing of the agreement with the contractor for the project.

The MMRDA made these submissions after the petitioners, Juhu residents, informed the court that even though the PIL opposing the elevated metro line was yet to be decided, the MMRDA had started work on the project.

A division bench of Justices Abhay Oka and Riyaz Chagla was hearing a PIL filed by the residents of Juhu and Vile Parle, seeking directions to the MMRDA to convert the elevated corridor from D.N. Nagar to Mandale into an underground one. However, on Thursday, the petitioners approached the court and informed it that the MMRDA had already started work on the project.

MMRDA tried to skirt the issue of whether the MMRDA or the contractor was empowered to start work without taking sanction from any authority. The petitioners’ senior counsel, Venkatesh Dhond, referred to the Metro Act and cited rule 7 which clearly states that sanction is required for survey as well as any type of digging work whether on private or public land.

The court asked the MMRDA to file a detailed reply in this regard by June 8 and posted the matter for hearing on June 12.