Delhi Metro Gets SC Nod for Ridge-Area Construction Under 10 Green Norms

On Tuesday, the Supreme Court handed the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) permission to begin construction on two new metro routes under Phase IV, from Saket G Block to Lajpat Nagar and from Inderlok to Indraprastha, which will travel through the ecologically important Morphological Ridge. The approval came after DMRC promised to fully comply with the Supreme Court-appointed Central Empowered Committee (CEC)'s ten strict stipulations for environmental protection.

The Supreme Court bench, comprised of Justices B.R. Gavai and A.G. Masih, declared in its judgement that the DMRC's application is accepted, providing the CEC's criteria are "scrupulously complied with." Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing DMRC, assured the bench that all norms will be scrupulously observed.

CEC Establishes Ten Environmental Safeguards for Delhi Metro Construction

The CEC's 10-point list of standards attempts to conserve Delhi's Ridge environment, which is a rocky continuation of the Aravalli Hills. The Ridge serves an important ecological role and is protected by multiple court orders. According to the CEC's April 25 assessment, the metro construction will affect a total of 28,685 square meters of protected terrain.

Among the CEC's main directives:

DMRC must obtain authorisation under the Delhi Preservation of Trees Act before trimming or felling any trees.

A 5% contribution from the overall project cost must be paid to the Ridge Management Board (RMB) for conservation efforts.

As compensation, 1,280 indigenous trees will be planted on non-forest land.

Any essential tree transplants must be performed under expert supervision.

The Inderlok-Indraprastha corridor will cover 20,915 square metres of ridge-like ground and require the removal of 122 trees. Meanwhile, the Saket G Block-Lajpat Nagar corridor would occupy 7,770 square metres and will not require any tree felling, with only six trees pruned owing to design revisions.

The corridors, which were approved by the Union Cabinet in March 2024, are projected to be completed and commissioned by 2029. DMRC stated that civil work must begin by April 2025 to meet the timetable.

Past Violations Haunt DMRC; Legal Action Recommended

Despite the clearance, the CEC audit identified past infractions by the DMRC. It cited a 2020 incident in which DMRC initiated construction between Janakpuri and Mukarba Chowk on forest land without first getting the appropriate approvals under the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980. A show-cause notice was sent to then-Chief Project Manager C.P. Singh, but no response was received. The CEC has now recommended that the Ministry of Environment, Forests, and Climate Change (MoEFCC) take legal action against Singh.

Another example of noncompliance identified in the report was the incomplete Ridge Interpretation Centre near Patel Chowk Metro Station. The centre, which was compelled by an earlier Supreme Court judgement to increase public awareness of the Ridge's ecology, is still incomplete. However, the CEC classified DMRC's development as "satisfactory," with the company predicting completion by April 2026.

The Ridge Management Board (RMB), which was founded by a Supreme Court judgement in October 1995, remains the key authority in charge of controlling land diversion in the Ridge area, including the Morphological Ridge.