The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has issued a citywide safety advisory for all construction sites following heavy rainfall and strong winds, days after a section of road collapsed near an under-construction site in Bhandup’s Sonapur area, where a vehicle fell into the resulting crater.
The civic body said the advisory has been issued in view of prevailing weather conditions, with wind speeds ranging between 70 and 80 kmph. Developers, architects, licensed surveyors, contractors, project managers and site engineers have been directed to immediately implement precautionary measures to ensure the safety of workers and the public.
According to the BMC, scaffolding, cranes, loose construction materials, formwork, tin sheets, compound wall structures and other temporary installations must be thoroughly inspected and secured. Materials stored on terraces, elevated platforms and upper floors must either be removed or firmly fastened to prevent accidents during strong winds.
The advisory also requires all excavation sites to be properly barricaded and continuously monitored. Tower cranes, material hoists, lifting equipment and safety nets must undergo stability checks, while lifting operations and work at heights should be suspended whenever weather conditions pose a risk. Exclusion zones must be maintained beneath active work areas, and workers have been instructed to use prescribed personal protective equipment and fall protection systems.
The BMC has further directed construction agencies to conduct immediate site-wide safety inspections, rectify hazardous conditions without delay, and continuously monitor weather forecasts until conditions improve.
The civic body instructed all stakeholders to treat the advisory with “utmost urgency,” emphasising that compliance with safety regulations is mandatory.
“The safety of workers, neighbouring residents and the general public is of paramount importance,” the BMC said, urging developers to ensure strict adherence to prescribed safety norms and construction best practices.
The advisory follows the recent road cave-in in Bhandup, which residents attributed to ongoing excavation work near the site. Although no injuries were reported, the incident raised concerns over construction safety during the monsoon.
The latest directive also comes as Mumbai continues to experience heavy rainfall, which has led to waterlogging, tree falls and other rain-related incidents across the city over the past few days.
