MMRDA seeks nod for Metro work at night

Mumbai: In order to carry out civil works speedily for the proposed Metro corridors in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) throughout the night, the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) has written to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) contending that construction sites of Metro corridors should be exempted from the restriction to not carry out civil works between 10pm and 6am.

According to the Environment Protection Act, 1986, noise from construction sites is banned between 10pm and 6am. The MMRDA wants Mumbai Metro construction sites to be exempt from this.

Pravin Darade, additional metropolitan commissioner, MMRDA, said, “We have written to CPCB to allow us to work in the night time. The time between 10pm and 6am is around 7-8 hours that helps us to complete various crucial civil work in the night hours when the traffic is considerably low and the work could be carried out smoothly.”

“We have several Metro corridors for which civil works is ongoing and we need to complete them as soon as possible. It’s very crucial for us to have support from the administration,” added Mr Darade.

Recently, a group of residents from Marol village in Andheri had filed a criminal case against the officials from the Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation (MMRC) and Larsen & Toubro (L&T) citing that that construction work being carried out for Metro-3 in the residential area of Marol throughout the night was leading to noise pollution and destruction of the environment.

Gloria Moraes, a resident from Marol village, said, “It is unacceptable to us if the work for carrying out civil works for Metro corridors is allowed throughout the night. It is very disturbing to have heavy machines making noises in the night. Also, it would have a negative impact on the case filed against MMRC in the court”.