July 3, 2025: Mumbai is on the move. The city’s skyline is constantly evolving, dotted with cranes, construction sites, and new infrastructure that promises transformation. It’s a sign of progress, of ambition. Yet, within this forward momentum lies an opportunity — to ensure that the pace of development is matched by an equal commitment to safety and accountability.
On June 28, 2025, reports surfaced of a sad occurrence involving Pramod Khadiya, a 36-year-old construction worker in Badlapur. It serves as a sombre reminder that, in addition to setting ambitious targets, there is also a need to maintain safety standards at each location. According to his colleagues, there was a need for better protective measures, which, if addressed proactively, may help prevent such accidents.
This is an opportunity to reevaluate the safeguards in place across the city’s rapidly expanding infrastructure network. Some of the tried-and-true methods for raising standards include independent audits, real-time site monitoring, and public contractor reviews. At the end of the day, progress is defined by the people whom we have protected along the road.
Another case, involving an unauthorised hoarding that authorities were supposedly aware of in advance, proved how prompt responses might prevent avoidable problems. It emphasises the need of flawless cooperation among civic entities, project managers, and safety enforcers, which can be improved even further.
Tragically, a worker at the RTO Metro station fell from a suspended platform and died in January 2024. The MMRDA penalised the contractor with a Rs 5 lakh fine. While financial fines act as deterrents, their true worth is in catalysing long-term safety improvements and preventive practices. It is encouraging to see regulatory agencies taking robust action, and there is still room to further integrate preventive measures into the system.
Between January 2024 and May 2025, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) and Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation (MMRC) received over 60 safety-related complaints, including broken barricades, debris, and cave-ins. According to reports, many of these were resolved using typical procedures although hazards remained. This raises serious concerns about the response of the city’s safety mechanisms. Bureaucratic delays continue to impede fast action, and tenders are frequently awarded to the lowest bidders, including firms who have previously reported reputational issues.
Mumbai possesses both the vision and capability to build world-class, safe, and inclusive infrastructure. The way forward lies in strengthening routine site inspections, upgrading preventive safety mechanisms, and fostering a culture where accountability and safety are seen as shared priorities — not procedural formalities.
Ultimately, the true hallmark of a progressive city isn’t just the number of structures it raises, but the quality of life it ensures for those who build and inhabit it. A future-ready Mumbai is one where every worker completes their day safely, every citizen feels secure, and where development uplifts all without compromise.
Picture credit: The Hans India
