The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) has imposed a combined ₹6-crore penalty on the contractor and general consultant following the deaths of two workers at the under-construction Bhakti Park station of Metro Line 4 in Wadala.
The action was taken after an iron staging structure, being used as scaffolding, collapsed on September 12 as the workers were climbing down from the first floor of the construction site. The victims, Nahij, 33, and Sakim, 37, suffered critical injuries in the accident and later died.
The main contractor, Reliance Infrastructure and Astaldi SPA Joint Venture (RAJV), has been fined Rs 5 crore, while the general consultant, a joint venture of DB Engineering & Consulting, Hill International and Louis Berger, has been penalised Rs 1 crore.
Preliminary Findings Point to Supervisory Lapses
MMRDA said it conducted a detailed examination of the accident before deciding on the penalties. The authority said its preliminary assessment indicated lapses at the supervisory level involving subcontractor Milan Road Buildtech.
“MMRDA accords the highest priority to safety and took immediate cognisance of the Bhakti Park incident, initiating action on the very same day,” it said.
The incident has also prompted police action. The Wadala TT police registered an FIR on September 15 against site supervisor Tarikh Ul Islam under Section 106(1) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), relating to causing death by negligence.
Workers Were Returning After Shift
According to the reported account, the two workers were finishing their duties and preparing to return to their accommodation when the staging gave way.
Both workers were from Tetia village in West Bengal. Co-workers immediately took the injured men to Sion Hospital, where Nahij was declared brought dead. Sakim was admitted for treatment but died later that night.
Their bodies were subsequently sent to their families.
Similar Incident on Metro 4 Earlier This Year
The latest accident has also drawn attention because the same contractor, consultant and subcontractor were associated with another serious incident on the Metro Line 4 corridor.
In February, a parapet slab collapsed on LBS Road in Mulund, killing one person and injuring three others when the concrete structure fell onto vehicles passing below.
Following that incident, MMRDA had again imposed Rs 5 crore on the contractor and Rs 1 crore on the consultant.
An investigation and police inquiry into the Mulund accident reportedly found that a welder had cut interlocking hooks before the concrete had properly set, causing the slab to loosen and fall.
Safety Scrutiny Intensifies
The Bhakti Park deaths have renewed scrutiny of safety practices at Mumbai’s major Metro construction sites, particularly the supervision and maintenance of temporary structures used during elevated construction.
With the latest penalties, MMRDA has signalled accountability measures against the agencies associated with the project. The police investigation into the Wadala accident is continuing alongside the authority’s examination of construction and supervisory procedures.
The focus is now on identifying the specific safety lapses that led to the staging collapse and ensuring that corrective measures are implemented across the Metro Line 4 construction network.
Source: The Indian Express
