MMRDA Intensifies Disciplinary Measures Following Fatal Metro Construction Incident
The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) has significantly escalated its internal disciplinary response to the tragic concrete parapet collapse that occurred on the under-construction Metro Line 4, demonstrating one of the most robust administrative reactions to a construction site safety lapse in recent Metro project history. This decisive action follows the fatal incident that claimed one life and injured three others in Mulund West.
Expanded Suspensions and Inquiries Across Engineering Hierarchy
During its 160th meeting chaired by Deputy Chief Minister and Urban Development Minister Eknath Shinde, MMRDA authorities decided to implement comprehensive disciplinary measures across multiple levels of its engineering supervision structure. The authority suspended superintending engineer Abhijit Bhisikar, who held responsibility for ensuring strict adherence to safety protocols at the construction site. Investigators allege Bhisikar failed to conduct a mandatory inspection after the parapet segment was installed approximately 10-12 hours before the catastrophic failure occurred.
Additionally, MMRDA suspended deputy engineer Snehal Sawant and ordered a formal departmental inquiry against chief engineer Madhukar Kharat. Both Kharat and Bhisikar were serving as deputy team leaders within the special intensive safety inspection team specifically established to review the entire Wadala–Kasarvadavali Metro 4 corridor. Their designated inspection areas included the Sonapur-Gainukh and Wadala-to-Sonapur stretches of this crucial transportation infrastructure project.
Contractor Accountability and Consultant Termination Proceedings
The authority has simultaneously initiated proceedings to terminate its general consultant, the D B Hill–LBG consortium, holding the firm equally accountable for the safety failure. Officials emphasized that the consultant's contractual responsibilities included direct supervision of construction quality, certification of safety compliance, and ensuring contractors followed established standard operating procedures before opening work zones to traffic below elevated structures.
This latest disciplinary expansion builds upon immediate actions taken following the February 14 incident, when MMRDA suspended executive engineer Satyajeet Salve on the day of the collapse and imposed preliminary financial penalties totaling Rs 6 crore. The contractor RAJV-Milan Infra received a Rs 5 crore penalty, while the D B Hill–LBG consortium faced a Rs 1 crore penalty for their respective roles in the safety oversight.
Incident Details and Ongoing Police Investigation
The tragic event unfolded when a 6ft×4ft concrete parapet segment from the under-construction Metro Line 4 viaduct dislodged and fell onto LBS Road in Mulund West, striking an autorickshaw and a car passing beneath the elevated structure. The impact resulted in the death of a 50-year-old man and injuries to three other individuals, highlighting critical safety vulnerabilities in the construction process.
Mulund police investigating the fatal collapse are actively searching for welder Ram Ashish and civil consultant Suresh Sai, both of whom have been untraceable since the incident. According to police statements, Ram Ashish bore responsibility for properly welding the slab but allegedly cut the two interlocks between parapets and left the structure loose, directly contributing to its collapse. Investigators noted that only these two individuals can provide clarification regarding why they compromised the interlocking mechanism and abandoned the unstable structure.
Proactive Safety Measures and Internal Reforms
In a forward-looking move to prevent similar incidents, MMRDA resolved during the same meeting to establish an internal vigilance cell dedicated to construction safety oversight. This new unit will conduct both periodic scheduled inspections and unannounced surprise checks at project sites throughout the metropolitan region. The vigilance cell's mandate includes identifying safety violations, verifying proper deployment of qualified manpower, and recommending disciplinary actions in cases of professional negligence or protocol breaches.
Police authorities continue their parallel criminal investigation while awaiting MMRDA's comprehensive internal report on the incident, which will likely inform both administrative and legal proceedings moving forward. This multi-pronged response represents a significant institutional acknowledgment of systemic safety failures and demonstrates MMRDA's commitment to accountability and reform in Mumbai's massive Metro infrastructure expansion.
