New Delhi: Delhi High Court has barred the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) from occupying the Yamuna floodplain area beyond March 31, 2026. A special bench of Justices Prathiba M Singh and Manmeet Pritam Singh Arora recently heard a petition revealing that DMRC continued to operate a batching plant and a casting yard in the floodplain, despite being instructed on Dec 11 to vacate the area.
The court described it as “surprising” that no action had been taken to remove the facilities and noted that DMRC had approached the court seeking an extension for dismantling operations. “Considering that DMRC is engaged in a critical infrastructure project in Delhi, namely the Delhi Metro and its ancillary developments, this court, as an exception, grants time till March 31, 2026, for dismantling machinery, equipment, batching plants and the casting yard,” the bench observed. The HC warned that from April 1 onwards, DMRC would be “restrained” from using the floodplain for any activities. It directed the corporation to restore the area to its original condition after dismantling, in consultation with the horticulture and forest departments, ensuring it is free of debris, machinery parts and other remnants. The floodplain must be fully cleaned before being handed over to the Delhi Development Authority (DDA). The court also instructed the DDA to file a compliance report by April 10. During the hearing, DMRC’s counsel explained that dismantling work had been delayed due to the imposition of GRAP restrictions but assured the court that all activities would likely be completed by March 31.
