The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has taken strict action against a major infrastructure contractor for allegedly violating environmental guidelines at a crucial metro construction site. The civic body issued a formal show-cause notice to J Kumar Infraprojects last week for non-compliance with prescribed air pollution mitigation measures at the Metro Line 2B project site located in Bandra East.
Inspection Reveals Lapses in Pollution Control
According to the notice issued by the assistant commissioner of the H/East ward, the site came under scrutiny during an inspection on December 4, 2025. A dedicated air pollution mitigation squad from the ward conducted the visit and filed an inspection report on the same day. The report explicitly directed the contractor to adhere to the air pollution control norms established under civic circulars from October 2023 and November 2025.
Contractor Failed to Submit Compliance Report
The BMC stated that following the initial inspection and subsequent directives, no compliance report was received from J Kumar Infraprojects. This lack of response prompted civic officials to make a subsequent visit to the ready-mix concrete (RMC) plant operated by the company at the site. During this follow-up, officials observed that the necessary requisitions and corrective actions mentioned in the earlier report had still not been implemented.
Strict Deadline and Potential Consequences
In its notice, the municipal corporation has now urged the contractor to submit a detailed explanation for the lapses within three days of receiving the notice. The BMC has warned that a failure to provide a satisfactory response could lead to severe repercussions, including a potential stoppage of all construction activity at the Metro Line 2B site in Bandra East. This move underscores the civic body's increasing focus on enforcing environmental standards amid ongoing infrastructure development in the city.
The case highlights the ongoing tension between rapid urban construction and the imperative to maintain air quality standards in Mumbai. It remains to be seen how J Kumar Infraprojects responds to the notice and whether it will implement the required mitigation measures to avoid a work stoppage on the significant metro project.
