SC halts construction activity on Rs 2k cr extension of Karwar port

31 Mar 2022 CW Team

On Tuesday, the Supreme Court ordered the project proponent to stop all construction work on a Rs 2,000 crore extension of the commercial Karwar port in Karnataka.

A bench led by Chief Justice N V Ramana dismissed a claim made by senior advocate Maninder Singh on behalf of DVP Infra Projects Private Ltd that the project's delay would increase costs, claiming that the beaches and environment could not be destroyed.

The bench issued notice to the Karnataka government and others in response to a petition filed by the Baithkol Bandharu Nirashrithara Yanteikrut Dhoni Meenugarara Sahakara Sangha Niyamitha. The court made an oral ruling prohibiting any further construction activities.

The petitioner, led by senior advocate Devadatt Kamat and advocate Amit Pai, questioned the legality of the High Court's ruling on July 29, 2021, which dismissed their challenge to the project.

The construction activities had begun, according to the council, based on the environmental clearance granted by state-level authorities on January 23, 2019, which violated the September 14, 2006, Environment Impact Assessment notification.

The lawyers asked for a status quo on the project after the Supreme Court agreed to look into it. The appeal argued that the High Court overlooked the fact that Karwar is one of the country's most popular tourist destinations, with the pristine beauty of the coast and beaches attracting visitors from all over the country.

The project for the 2nd Stage Expansion of the Karwar Port has the impact of directly and adversely impacting the people's right to enjoy the beach, which is in direct violation of Article 19(1)(d) of the Constitution.

Image Source

Also read: Karnataka plans to build airports in all major cities across state

Infrastructure Transport

30 May 2026

Chembur Metro to Boost East Mumbai Links

MMRDA is advancing eastern Mumbai’s urban mobility network, with the upcoming Chembur Metro Station set to emerge as a key interchange and the Mumbai Monorail preparing for relaunch.Dr Sanjay Mukherjee, Metropolitan Commissioner, MMRDA, conducted a site visit to Chembur Metro Station along with Kanhuraj Bagate, Managing Director, MMMOCL. He also visited the nearby VN Purav Monorail Station to review system preparedness and ease of interconnectivity.Once operational, the interchange is expected to offer commuters across the eastern suburbs quicker access, smoother transfers and seamless conne..

Herrenknecht TBMs Drive Thane–Borivali Tunnel Progress

Herrenknecht India has supplied two of the four tunnel boring machines (TBMs) required for the 11-km Thane–Borivali Twin Tunnel Project being developed by the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA). The project is expected to reduce travel time between Thane and Borivali from 60–90 minutes to around 15 minutes while easing congestion across the Mumbai Metropolitan Region.The first two Single Shield TBMs, named Nayak and Arjuna, feature 13.34-m cutterhead diameters and are designed for hard-rock excavation. They will be deployed to tunnel through the challenging geological..

KBL Launches Smart Skid Mounted Fire Pump Set

Kirloskar Brothers (KBL) has launched its Smart Skid Mounted Fire Pump Set, an integrated fire protection solution designed to improve operational efficiency, remote monitoring and installation flexibility. The system was inaugurated by Ms Madhuritai Misal, Hon. Minister of State for Urban Development, Government of Maharashtra.The Smart Skid Mounted Fire Pump Set is a factory-tested, pre-packaged solution that combines FM/UL-certified motor and engine pump sets with IoT-enabled remote monitoring. Designed to deliver a flow rate of 170 m³/hr at a head of 100 metres, the system aims to provide..