Mumbai: MMRCL Adopts Safety Protocols Along Underground Metro, Mandates NOCs For Projects Near Metro 3 Tunnels

The Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation Limited (MMRCL) has urged developers, housing societies, landlords, and plot owners to obtain no-objection certificates (NOCs) before starting any construction work along the Colaba-Bandra-Seepz stretch of the Metro 3 corridor.

MMRCL is the executing agency for Mumbai’s first underground metro, which was recently inaugurated.

In a public notice, MMRCL said it is mandatory to seek approval from the corporation for any construction within 100 metres (m) of the two metro tunnels along this route.

The two metro tunnels, each with an approximate diameter of 6.35 m, are positioned 20-22 m apart and are located 17-25 m below ground.

The notice emphasises the need for MMRCL's clearance to prevent any negative impact on metro structures, both above and below the ground.

As per a Hindustan Times report, Ashwini Bhide, Managing Director, MMRCL, said, "Asking project proponents to obtain an NOC is a standard process, and we have issued more than 200 NOCs till date."

Those who have already obtained NOCs must also implement special safety measures to avoid any accidents outside their construction sites, the notice added.

According to reports, real estate experts are seeing it as a way to ensure the safe redevelopment of the many old buildings along this corridor.

The stretch spans both the older and newer densely populated areas of Mumbai, including its southernmost parts.

Known as the Aqua Line, the 12.69 km Phase 1 section, connecting Bandra-Kurla Complex (BKC) to Aarey, opened to the public on 7 October.

Once Phase II becomes operational, the Metro 3 corridor will link southern, central, and western Mumbai.

This is the fourth operational metro corridor in Mumbai, adding to the Ghatkopar-Andheri-Versova Metro Line 1, Andheri West-Dahisar Line 2A, and Andheri East-Dahisar Line 7.