Bombay HC stays Metro-3 work in SoBo for two weeks

Mumbai: The Bombay high court on Thursday stayed the tunnelling work on the Metro III line along the Colaba-Bandra-Seepz route near J. N. Petit heritage building at Fort for two weeks.

The stay comes in the wake of fears that the tunnelling work was damaging the foundations of several heritage and iconic buildings in the area, including the 119-year-old J. N. Petit building. The court has also constituted a three-member expert committee comprising structural engineers from J. N. Petit Institute, the Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation Limited (MMRCL) and experts from IIT-Bombay to study the issue.

The HC directed the committee to study the effects of such tunnelling work on buildings, and to suggest ways on how the work could continue without causing any damage. “The committee will submit its report on the effects of the excavation work on the buildings within two weeks,” the HC said.

A division bench consisting of Chief Justice Manjula Chellur and Justice Nitin Jamdar was hearing a petition filed by trustees of the J. N. Petit Institute, who opposed tunnelling work of Metro III near Fort and sought a stay on it. On August 25, a heavy limestone finial adorning a portion of the J. N. Petit building’s ceiling, had fallen down due to the constant vibrations from the ongoing tunnelling work for the Metro.  The petitioner also made the Mumbai Region Development Authority (MMRDA), the MMRCL and the state government party to the petition.

“In view of today’s Honorable High Court of Bombay order, the MMRC will not undertake construction activity work in front of the J. N. Petit Institute building in south Mumbai. Further, as per the order, a committee comprising three structural engineers, one each from IIT, MMRC and from the petitioner’s side will be formed, and will submit its report within two weeks. The MMRC, being a responsible organization, has taken all the necessary protocols and precautions to prevent any damage to the buildings,” said a MMRC spokesperson. “We will further take any measures required to avoid any damage due to our construction activities in close vicinity of the building. MMRC has already deployed monitoring instruments which will be further augmented based upon the outcome of the committee's recommendations,” he added.

On Thursday, Chief Justice Chellur had said that the court could not stop the Metro work altogether as the project was meant for public welfare. However, she had agreed to the petitioner’s request for a survey of all buildings in the area by an independent structural engineering expert.