Bombay HC rejects plea to carry out Metro-3 work at nighttime

MUMBAI: The Bombay high court on Wednesday temporarily refused to grant permission to Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation Limited (MMRCL) to carry out construction work of Metro 3 at night, till August 2, in Cuff Parade area.

The court also said that it won’t accept the contention of the state government that noise pollution rules are not binding on the metro project. But the court also made it clear that while passing the final order on the application it will take care of petitioner’s rights guarded under Constitution and larger public interest.

A division bench of Justice Abhay Oka and Justice Riyaz Chagla was hearing an application of MMRCL wherein request is made for conducting construction work at night, which was opposed by a Cuffe Parade resident Robin Jaisinghani.

On Wednesday, Mahar-ashtra Pollution Control board (MPCB) informed the court that it has given National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI) the work of measuring noise pollution at night in Cuffe Parade area. The MPCB also assured the court that it will submit its first noise mapping report on
August 2.

Petitioner Robin Jaisinghani told the court that NEERI will have to collect the noise samples from the premises of the residential buildings. The court then cleared that it will not pass an order allowing NEERI officials to enter premises of societies to measure noise levels at night.

Meanwhile, Robin Jaisinghani also submitted a video clip in the court, which shows despite Bombay high court order Metro-3 work being carried at night in Cuffe Parade area.