December 15, 2023: The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) took decisive action by issuing a stop-work notice to the terminus station construction site of the Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet train project at Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC). The notice was served due to the project’s violation of air pollution norms. As BKC serves as the starting station for the bullet train, development activities for the Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train project had already commenced. Two weeks earlier, officials had specifically instructed compliance with environmental laws in response to the city’s concerning air quality index. However, these directives were reportedly disregarded.
The site underwent inspection by the ward’s assistant municipal commissioner on December 13, 2023. During the visit, it was noted that essential measures such as the installation of sprinklers, anti-smog towers and the application of green cloth coverings had not been implemented. Last week, municipal teams at the ward level had already observed non-compliance with regulations, prompting the issuance of a “work stoppage” notice.
The company responsible for the project, the National High Speed Rail Corporation (NHSRCL), denied receiving the stop-work notice, according to media reports. The construction work is being carried out by MEIL-HCC, a joint venture between Hindustan Construction Company and Megha Engineering and Infrastructure.
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