The Supreme Court has cleared the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) to begin construction on two Phase IV corridors through the ecologically sensitive Morphological Ridge—subject to strict compliance with 10 green safeguards outlined by the Central Empowered Committee (CEC).
The project, involving the Saket G Block–Lajpat Nagar and Inderlok–Indraprastha metro corridors, covers nearly 28,685 square metres of protected Ridge land, a geological extension of the Aravalli Hills vital to Delhi’s ecological health. The Supreme Court bench, comprising Justices B.R. Gavai and A.G. Masih, granted the go-ahead after the DMRC pledged full adherence to the CEC’s environmental conditions. Among the key stipulations, DMRC must secure approval under the Delhi Preservation of Trees Act before any pruning or felling. It must also contribute 5% of the project cost to the Ridge Management Board (RMB) to fund conservation. To offset environmental impact, 1,280 native trees are to be planted on non-forest land, and all tree transplants will require expert oversight. The Inderlok–Indraprastha section will cover 20,915 sq. m and involve the removal of 122 trees. The Saket–Lajpat Nagar route, spanning 7,770 sq. m, will require no felling, with only six trees pruned due to design changes. Approved by the Union Cabinet in March 2024, the new lines are expected to be operational by 2029. Civil work is scheduled to begin by April 2025 to meet the deadline.
However, the CEC also raised past compliance concerns. In 2020, DMRC was found to have initiated construction between Janakpuri and Mukarba Chowk on forest land without mandatory permissions under the Forest (Conservation) Act. A show-cause notice was issued to the Chief Project Manager C.P. Singh, but no reply was received. The CEC has now urged the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) to initiate legal proceedings. Another compliance lapse involves the incomplete Ridge Interpretation Centre near Patel Chowk Metro Station, originally mandated by the Supreme Court to educate the public on the Ridge’s importance. DMRC now estimates its completion by April 2026. Despite these concerns, the CEC noted DMRC’s overall performance as “satisfactory.” The RMB, established by a Supreme Court order in 1995, will continue to oversee all land-use decisions in the Ridge area to prevent future infractions.
The court’s conditional clearance marks a precedent for sustainable urban mobility, emphasizing the importance of integrating ecological preservation with infrastructure expansion. The Delhi Metro’s expansion through the Ridge, if executed responsibly, could serve as a model for balancing development and environmental stewardship.
