Construction agencies, private developers and government departments planning excavation work near Mumbai Metro Line 3, or the Aqua Line, will have to obtain a paid No-Objection Certificate (NOC) from the Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation Limited (MMRCL).
The requirement applies to digging and excavation carried out within a 50-metre influence zone of the 33.5-km underground corridor between Cuffe Parade and Aarey-JVLR. While an NOC has been mandatory in the designated zone since construction of the corridor began in 2017, MMRCL is now introducing a fee structure based on the distance of the proposed work from the metro alignment.
The revised charges will come into effect from September 30, with applicants potentially paying up to Rs 5.4 lakh for work located closest to the underground tunnels.
Charges Linked to Distance from Metro Route
The highest fee will apply to excavation taking place within six metres of the median. A lower charge will be applicable for sites located between six and 20 metres, with another reduced rate for work beyond 20 metres within the designated influence area.
Applications for NOCs will undergo technical examination and verification before permission is issued. The process is intended to ensure that excavation activities do not pose a risk to the underground infrastructure.
Focus on Protecting Underground Tunnels
The move assumes greater significance after a recent incident in which a private company drilling a borewell reportedly breached one of the Metro 3 tunnels near CSMT station.
The twin tunnels in that section are around 18 metres below ground level. Although the reported damage was not significant, the incident highlighted the risks posed by uncoordinated excavation near underground transport infrastructure.
MMRCL is therefore strengthening controls around activities that involve drilling, piling, digging or other ground disturbance close to the Aqua Line.
Safety Measures Along a 33.5-Km Corridor
Metro Line 3 passes through some of Mumbai’s most densely developed areas, where construction, utility works and redevelopment projects frequently involve underground activity.
By linking NOC charges to the distance from the metro alignment and subjecting applications to technical scrutiny, MMRCL aims to regulate such work and protect the structural integrity of the tunnels.
For developers and agencies working within the influence zone, the new system means that obtaining approval will carry a direct financial cost in addition to the technical and procedural requirements.
The fee structure is scheduled to take effect on September 30, adding another layer of oversight to construction and excavation activities around Mumbai’s first fully underground Metro corridor.
Source: Hindustan Times
