Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray has criticised the Maharashtra government following a construction-related incident near a school van during work on Metro Line 9 in Mira Road. He demanded a third-party safety audit of all ongoing Metro projects across Mumbai and the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR).
The incident reportedly occurred near Thunga Hospital, where construction material fell onto the road during work on the under-construction Medetiya Nagar Metro station. The incident caused concern among commuters, with a school van reportedly passing through the area at the time.
Thackeray Questions Safety Measures
Taking to X, Thackeray questioned the government over the incident and wrote, “Has the value of Mumbai residents’ lives become zero under this government’s rule?”
He also raised concerns about accountability and asked, “If some mishap had occurred today, who would be held responsible?”
The incident has renewed scrutiny over safety arrangements at Metro construction sites, particularly along busy roads where pedestrians, motorists and public transport vehicles move close to ongoing work.
Reference To Earlier Metro Incident
Thackeray also referred to the earlier Metro-related incident in Mulund, where a portion of an elevated Metro structure reportedly fell onto the road, killing one person and injuring others.
He alleged that authorities had failed to draw lessons from previous incidents and claimed that construction quality and safety protocols were being compromised.
“Substandard work is being hastily approved solely to inflate percentages and fill contractors’ pockets. No safety rules are being followed whatsoever,” Thackeray alleged.
Demand For Blacklisting And Safety Audit
Thackeray called for the contractor responsible for the Mira Road incident to be “blacklisted” and demanded criminal action against officials and contractors found responsible.
He also sought an immediate independent safety audit covering all ongoing Metro construction works in Mumbai and the wider MMR.
Meanwhile, the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) has imposed a cumulative Rs 12.5 crore penalty on contractor J Kumar and consultants following the safety lapse at the Medetiya Nagar Metro station on Metro Line 9. The penalties come amid renewed focus on construction-site safety and the need to strengthen safeguards around busy urban corridors.
Source: The Free Press Journal
