NGT Orders MMRDA To Obtain Environmental Clearance For Wadala Project

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has ordered the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) to obtain prior Environmental Clearance (EC) for the entire 122.10-hectare Wadala Notified Area. The tribunal's Western Zone Bench, presided over by Justice Dinesh Kumar Singh and Dr Sujit Kumar Bajpayee, pronounced the judgment on September 3, 2026.

The order came in response to an application filed by Arun Nathuram Gaikwad, who challenged the development of the Wadala Notified Area on the grounds that it was being undertaken without the mandatory prior EC. The project, which originally involved a truck terminal, ISBT, and related infrastructure, was later modified to a commercial centre on the lines of the Bandra-Kurla Complex (BKC).

The NGT noted that the project had undergone several changes and expansions after the EIA Notification, 2006, came into force. The area was revised from 109.24 hectares in 2010 to 122.10 hectares in 2019. The tribunal held that this change in the scope of the project triggered the requirement for prior environmental clearance.

The MMRDA has been directed not to make any further allotments of land in the Wadala Notified Area without first obtaining environmental clearance for the entire project under the EIA Notification, 2006. The tribunal observed that the project's large-scale redevelopment falls within the ambit of the Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) Notification, 2006.

The Wadala Notified Area is a significant project in Mumbai, with a total built-up area exceeding 50 hectares. The NGT's order highlights the importance of obtaining prior environmental clearance for large-scale projects to ensure that they do not harm the environment.

The MMRDA will now have to obtain prior EC from the Competent Authority for the entire Wadala Notified Area before proceeding with any further development. This move is expected to delay the project, but it will ensure that the environmental impact of the project is assessed and mitigated.

The NGT's order is a significant development in the context of environmental clearance for large-scale projects in Mumbai. It sets a precedent for other projects in the city and emphasizes the need for environmental clearance before undertaking any major development work.

In recent years, Mumbai has seen several large-scale development projects, including the Wadala Notified Area. While these projects are expected to boost the city's economy and infrastructure, they also have the potential to harm the environment. The NGT's order highlights the need for careful planning and environmental assessment before undertaking such projects.

The MMRDA will now have to revisit the project plan and obtain prior EC before proceeding with any further development. This move is expected to ensure that the project is environmentally sustainable and does not harm the city's ecosystem.

In conclusion, the NGT's order is a significant development in the context of environmental clearance for large-scale projects in Mumbai. It emphasizes the need for careful planning and environmental assessment before undertaking such projects and sets a precedent for other projects in the city.