Mumbai: Construction at the Bandra-Kurla Complex (BKC) bullet train terminus has been halted due to repeated violations of air pollution norms, highlighting growing concerns over the city’s deteriorating air quality.

The stoppage, ordered by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) on Wednesday, comes amid mounting criticism from the Bombay High Court over the civic body’s lax monitoring of construction-related pollution. Particulate matter from construction activities has been identified as a key contributor to Mumbai’s worsening air quality, a point acknowledged by the BMC itself.

“The BMC is not working at all. There is no monitoring. It has turned a blind eye to the issue,” the court observed during proceedings on Wednesday while hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) on unchecked air pollution in the city.

India’s first high-speed rail corridor, being built by the National High-Speed Rail Corporation Limited (NHSRCL), a joint venture of the Union Railway Ministry and the governments of Gujarat and Maharashtra, has now received its second stop-work notice. A senior civic official clarified that work will only resume once contractors fully comply with air pollution mitigation norms. While some preparatory activities may continue, all digging and earth-moving operations have been suspended.

The stop-work notice followed a BMC inspection, which corroborated findings from a high court-appointed committee that highlighted serious lapses at the site. Barricades were lower than prescribed, the on-site air quality monitor had been installed just two days prior, and CCTV footage showed trucks operating uncovered, dusty internal roads, no water sprinkling, and debris hastily covered only before the committee’s visit. Key areas like tyre-washing zones were also found to be outside CCTV surveillance.

The High Court emphasized that halting construction is not a long-term solution. Instead, it called for continuous, surprise monitoring and coordinated reporting to ensure compliance. The BMC’s current action reflects this directive, with stricter enforcement measures implemented after follow-up inspections revealed partial or incorrect implementation of corrective steps.

The court stressed that large infrastructure projects must consistently follow dust-mitigation measures to prevent further deterioration of Mumbai’s air quality. DeshGujarat