High-rise plans scrutinised for twin coastal road tunnels

07 Dec 2023 CW Team

Two prime development projects on Little Gibbs Road at Malabar Hill, which were planned to be constructed above the twin coastal road tunnels, are currently under scrutiny for safety measures. This evaluation follows a tunnel collapse at Silkyara, during which 41 miners were trapped for 17 days. The coastal road department of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has requested the building proposals department to assess the safety of two high-rise projects, each with 3-4 storeys of basement.

A letter requesting a safety review has been dispatched to Aakar Architects and Consultants and Barai Architects. These two firms play the role of 'liaisoning consultants in simplifying approvals for real estate projects.'

A no-objection certificate (NOC) had been granted by the coastal road department to Aakar Architects and Consultants on June 15, 2022, for an 18-storey building with a 4-level basement. Similarly, Barai Architects received an NOC on November 2, 2018, for a 32-meter high, 7-floor building with 3 levels of basement. The redevelopment is taking place on plots where two bungalows once stood. One plot is owned by Reliance, and the other is owned by Godrej and Boyce.

The BMC's action was prompted by a complaint from citizen-activist Santosh Daundkar. He asserted, "Malabar Hill is an original tekdi (hillock). Originally, the British had built on it, but over the decades, due to development work and environmental changes, the tekdi is becoming weaker." He added, "The coastal road is Mumbai?s dream project. The two projects are being constructed over the tunnel. Heavy loads and even more digging could endanger the tunnel, and that is why I have filed a complaint."

Infrastructure Urban

27 Oct 2025

Coal Ministry Achieves Milestones under Special Campaign 5.0

The Ministry of Coal and its Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) have achieved notable milestones under the Special Campaign 5.0, focusing on cleanliness, operational efficiency, and sustainability across the coal sector. During the implementation phase from 2–31 October 2025, over 1,205 sites were cleaned, covering 68,04,087 sq ft, nearing the target of 82,51,511 sq ft. Scrap disposal of 5,813 MT against a target of 8,678 MT generated Rs 228.7 million in revenue. In addition, 1,11,248 physical and 30,331 electronic files were reviewed, with 74,123 weeded out or closed. Key initiatives showc..

Vesting Orders Issued for Three Coal Blocks under Commercial Auctions

The Ministry of Coal’s Nominated Authority has issued vesting orders for three coal blocks under commercial coal block auctions on 23 October 2025. The Coal Mine Development and Production Agreements (CMDPAs) for these mines were earlier signed on 21 August 2025. The three blocks include Rajgamar Dipside (Deavnara), Tangardihi North, and Mahuagarhi. Of these, two are partially explored while one is fully explored, with a combined peak rated capacity of around 1 MTPA and geological reserves of approximately 1,484.41 million tonnes. These mines are expected to generate annual revenue of abou..

TEC, IIT-Hyderabad Partner to Boost 6G and Telecom Standards

The Telecommunication Engineering Centre (TEC), technical arm of the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad (IIT Hyderabad) for joint research and technical collaboration in advanced telecom technologies and standardisation. The partnership focuses on developing India-specific standards and test frameworks for next-generation networks, including 6G, Artificial Intelligence (AI), and Non-Terrestrial Networks (NTNs). It also aims to enhance India’s participation in international standardisation f..