Five Arrested in Mumbai Metro Construction Collapse Tragedy
In a significant development following a devastating construction accident, the Mulund police have arrested five key individuals connected to the collapse of a parapet segment at the under-construction Metro Line 4 site on LBS Marg in Mulund West. The incident, which occurred on Saturday afternoon, tragically claimed one life and left three others injured, raising serious concerns about safety protocols at infrastructure projects across Mumbai.
Details of the Arrests and Incident
The arrested persons include Harish Chauhan, project director; Kuldeep Sapkal, project manager; Saurab Singh, deputy manager; and Prashant Bhoir, supervisor—all from RAJV-Milan Infra. Additionally, Avdhoot Inamdar, project manager from the DB-Hill-LBG consortium, was taken into custody. The collapse involved a parapet segment that gave way, leading to immediate chaos and emergency response efforts.
Fire brigade teams, police personnel, Metro staff, and civic officials swiftly secured the site to prevent further hazards. However, the arterial road experienced significant traffic disruptions for several hours as authorities managed the aftermath. Police have confirmed that a nearly 150-meter stretch in the Sion-bound direction will remain closed until a thorough safety inspection by the MMRDA team is completed, with diversions implemented to alleviate congestion in the Mulund-Bhandup area.
Penalties and Political Reactions
In response to the incident, the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) imposed substantial penalties: Rs 5 crore on the contractor RAJV-Milan and Rs 1 crore on the project management consultant, DB-Hill-LBG consortium. This move comes amid growing criticism from political figures who highlighted previous violations by the contractor and a broader lack of safety standards at city infrastructure sites.
Mulund MLA Mihir Kotecha revealed that the parapet segment had been installed just a day before the collapse, on Friday. He alleged that laborers worked on it without supervisor oversight, potentially disturbing temporary fastenings and causing the dislodgment. Kotecha further claimed that 54 prior violations by the contractor in Mulund had been flagged but ignored, underscoring systemic negligence.
Mayor Ritu Tawde pointed out that the recently installed stretch should have been properly barricaded, indicating a failure in on-ground safety measures. Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray, via a social media post, criticized the safety standards at infrastructure sites and questioned whether the contractor would be blacklisted, citing repeated lapses and inadequate barricading at project locations.
Authority Response and Compensation Measures
MMRDA has committed to bearing the medical expenses of the injured individuals and providing financial assistance to the affected family as per policy, with assurances of priority disbursal of compensation. The authority has also halted all work at the stretch and initiated a comprehensive structural safety assessment in coordination with the BMC, disaster management authorities, police, and fire brigade. This work falls under Package CA-10 of Metro Line 4.
Additional metropolitan commissioner Ashwin Mudgal, along with senior officials, conducted an on-site inspection to review safety measures. Doctors from Fortis Hospital were engaged to independently assess the condition of the injured patients and recommend advanced medical interventions if necessary.
Inquiry and Future Actions
A high-level inquiry committee has been formed, headed by Basavraj M Bhadragond, director (projects), to examine construction methodology, quality control systems, and supervision mechanisms. The committee's findings will determine further actions, including potential blacklisting and contractual remedies based on accountability. MMRDA clarified that viral visuals circulating online pertain to a different location and not the specific pier involved in this incident.
This tragic event underscores the urgent need for enhanced safety protocols and stricter oversight in Mumbai's rapidly expanding infrastructure projects, as authorities work to prevent future occurrences and ensure justice for the victims.
