‘Nobody will be spared’: BMC issues notice to metro contractor J Kumar Infraprojects for flouting pollution norms; MMRDA defends
The latest BMC notice to J Kumar issued on December 11 is the third in the past three years including one where it had issued a stop work notice at the project site
According to the BMC notice, a copy of which is with The Indian Express, the contractor failed to adhere to norms on 18 of the 20 accounts that were applicable to the project. (File photo)
AMID THE city grappling with air pollution woes, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation has issued a fresh show cause to J Kumar Infraprojects–the third in three years–for violating the air pollution mitigation guidelines on multiple accounts at the Metro Line 2B worksite spanning over 2.5 km in Bandra Kurla Complex. The project managed by Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) is being executed by J Kumar Infraprojects–the contractor appointed by MMRDA. Records accessed by The Indian Express show that this is the third time that the M/S J Kumar has been served a show cause notice including a stop work notice in 2023 over non-compliance.
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According to the BMC notice, a copy of which is with The Indian Express, the contractor failed to adhere to norms on 18 of the 20 accounts that were applicable to the project. BMC has a 28-point guideline that was issued in October 2023 to regulate pollution at construction sites. The latest notice was served to J Kumar RMC plant operated by J Kumar Infraprojects on December 11, 2025 for failing to adhere to mitigation measures at the Metro worksite’s RMC plant.
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The show cause notice was served after site inspection by the BMC’s H(East) ward’s air pollution mitigation squad on December 4, wherein the squad observed an array of violations–from lack of metal/tin sheets to absence of air pollution monitoring records and lack of valid PUC certificates for their transport vehicles among others. Noting the violations, BMC first issued an ‘Inspection Report’ to the contractor on the same day and asked them to comply with the stipulated norms. However, as BMC in its subsequent visits noted that most of the applicable guidelines were not being adhered to, it then issued a “show cause” notice to J Kumar’s RMC plant site on December 11.
“Such non-compliance amounts to a violation of the prescribed Air Pollution Mitigation Guidelines and poses a serious threat to environmental safety and public health,” said the BMC in its show cause notice, stating that a stop work notice will be issued against the project works in the absence of a satisfactory explanation.
BMC additional municipal commissioner, Avinash Dhakne said, “Nobody will be spared, whether it is a government or private agency. We have issued strict instructions that whoever is polluting should be booked. Today as well, I convened a meeting with some ward officials where I directed them to strictly issue notices wherever there is a discrepancy.”
Emails sent to J Kumar Infraprojects did not elicit any response.
A senior officer with MMRDA, requesting anonymity said, “Our records show that PM 2.5 and PM 10 limits at the project site are satisfactory and within the stipulated norms. We are not contributing to air pollution as 90 percent of the work on the Metro project sites have already been completed. Currently, most of the pollution is being contributed to by private development projects. Therefore, instead of blaming the Metro work site, the BMC should focus on such sites which are actually contributing to air pollution as well as implement the mitigation measures.”
With this third notice to M/S J Kumar for this project site in three years, BMC had served a stop work notice to J Kumar Infraprojects in November 2023 for failing to adhere to the mitigation measures at the BKC work site and then again issued a show cause notice to M/S J Kumar’s casting yard site on December 23, 2024 wherein the civic body had flagged the absence of adherence to the civic norms for mitigation of air pollution.
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The show cause notice at the BKC worksite has come at a time when the BKC commercial hub has been grappling with deteriorating air quality. Records from the MPCB showed that the monitoring station at Bandra Kurla Complex has recorded consistently poor AQI since early November this year, when unseasonal rainfall activity receded. Between November 6 and Tuesday (December 16), the BKC station logged ‘moderate’ AQI over 100 on all days with the worst air quality was observed on December 4 when the AQI level plummeted to the poor category at 232.
Nayonika Bose is a Trainee Correspondent with The Indian Express’ Mumbai bureau. While in the early stages of her career, her focused reporting on local governance and community welfare already demonstrates clear Expertise and Trustworthiness in covering essential civic issues impacting Mumbai's residents.
Expertise & Authority (E-E-A-T)
Specialized Focus: Nayonika's reporting is dedicated to civic and community issues, providing readers with highly relevant, ground-level information about the functionality and administration of India's largest metropolitan area.
Core Coverage Areas: Her articles highlight a strong focus on the fundamental quality of life and public safety in Mumbai, including:
Civic Infrastructure: Reports on critical failures and initiatives related to public works, such as the recurring problem of unauthorized building collapses in Navi Mumbai, the construction of new infrastructure projects (like the Dahisar-Bhayandar Link Road and the Mahalaxmi cable-stayed bridge), and the maintenance of essential city services (e.g., manhole cover theft).
Urban Governance & Crisis Management: Provides detailed coverage of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation's (BMC) response to major crises, particularly during the monsoon (e.g., heavy rainfall, water cuts, and public health concerns like dengue and malaria) and large-scale public safety incidents (e.g., the hoarding collapse fallout).
Community Welfare & Rights: Reports on key social issues, including the financial aid scheme for persons with disabilities, the struggles of Mumbai's hawkers protesting eviction drives, and the dangers faced by workers due to the continuation of manual scavenging in water tanks.
Cultural & Heritage Reporting: Covers significant community stories, including the restoration of British-era fountains and the history of institutions like the 126-year-old Chinchpokli cemetery, showing a breadth of interest beyond pure administration.
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