Metro 7 firm fined Rs 5 lakh for collapse

Mumbai: The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) has slapped a fine of Rs 5 lakh on Metro 7 contractor J. Kumar after a metal structure of a pier collapsed on the service road on October 21. The amount will be deducted from the monthly bill of the contractor. Initially, the authority had sent show-cause notice to the contractor immediately after the accident. The MMRDA investigated the case and came to a conclusion that the contractor is guilty.  

“Yes, it is true that we have imposed a penalty of Rs 5 lakh on the contractor. The driver responsible for the incident has been transferred from his duty. We will deduct the penalty amount from the monthly bill of the contractor, further we have asked the contractor to observe safety precautions while conducting the civil work,” said a senior MMRDA official.  

The Asian Age had reported in its October 22 issue about the tilting of a metal structure for Metro 7 (Andheri East-Dahisar East). However, no casualty was reported. The incident took place at Aarey Junction on the Western Express Highway (WEH).  Explaining about the incident, an MMRDS press statement read, “While fixing the second shutter with the Hydra crane, the Hydra’s boom touched the reinforcement bars due to leakage of air pressure, resulting in the reinforcement bending. The reinforcement bent and twisted towards service road.”

Metro Line 7 is a 16.475 km-long elevated corridor with 13 stations.

It will provide interconnectivity among the existing WEH, Western Railway, Metro Line 1 (Ghatkopar to Versova), the ongoing Metro Line 2A (Dahisar to DN Nagar) and the proposed Metro Line 6 (Swami Samarth Nagar to Vikhroli).