The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has intensified enforcement against construction sites failing to comply with air pollution norms, issuing a show-cause notice to the under-construction Metro line 7A, an extension linking Andheri East with Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport. The move underscores growing civic concern over urban air quality as winter approaches, when pollution levels often peak.
The notice, addressed to the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) and its contractor, highlighted multiple breaches of the BMC’s 28-point air quality guidelines. These include the absence of a 25-foot protective tin sheet around the site, lack of tyre-washing facilities for construction trucks, debris-laden access roads, and missing air quality sensors and public display boards. Non-compliance could lead to a stop-work order within one to two weeks, officials warned. An official from BMC’s environment and climate change department explained that the measures follow the Bombay High Court’s directives. “We have been monitoring adherence closely. Although developers requested extensions during a meeting on October 28, deadlines cannot be postponed indefinitely,” the official noted.
Industry representatives cited logistical hurdles in meeting sensor installation requirements. A spokesperson from a major developers’ body observed that approved vendors take up to four weeks to supply, assemble, and install imported air quality monitors. Currently, roughly 500 sensors have been installed across the city, with 250 linked to BMC’s monitoring network. With around 1,200 active construction sites in Mumbai, each sensor incurs a cost of approximately ₹1.2 lakh, highlighting both financial and operational pressures on builders. Local residents have voiced mounting frustration over construction-related dust. Shopkeepers near the ongoing Elphinstone Bridge demolition in Prabhadevi and Parel reported worsening air quality, citing dust accumulation, inadequate barricading, and irregular water sprinkling on roads. “It is increasingly unsafe to keep our doors open,” said a local business owner. “Walking on the access road feels like navigating an obstacle course, particularly for the elderly.”
Urban planners note that unmitigated construction dust not only affects public health but also undermines sustainable city ambitions. Ensuring timely installation of air quality sensors, proper site barricading, and debris management are essential for aligning Mumbai’s infrastructure development with net zero and climate-resilient urbanisation goals. As civic authorities maintain pressure on developers, compliance will be crucial for safeguarding the city’s air quality and supporting equitable, sustainable urban growth.
BMC Issues Show Cause Notice To Metro 7A For Air Pollution Violations
