Mumbai Metro Line-4 accident: Contractor fined Rs 5 crore by MMRDA

Mumbai Police have registered a case at Mulund Police Station in connection with the collapse of a parapet segment from the underconstruction Mumbai Metro Line4 that killed one person and injured three others on Saturday afternoonAs per latest updates the case has been filed under Sections 105 110 3245 and 35 Further investigation is onMeanwhile the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority MMRDA has imposed immediate financial penalties of Rs 5 crore on contractor RAJV Milan Infra and Rs 1 crore on the General Consultant consortium comprising DB Engineering amp Consulting Hill International Inc and Louis Berger Consulting Private Limited citing prima facie responsibility The action is subject to the findings of a detailed inquiryAs per latest updates vehicular movement on Lal Bahadur Shastri LBS Road resumed on Saturday evening after being shut for nearly seven hours following an accident Senior Police Inspector Traffic MulundBhandup Division Mahesh Tambe confirmed that the accident spot has now been cleared and the stretch reopened to trafficThe mishap took place around 1215 pm near Pier P196 on the WadalandashKasarvadavali corridor close to Mulund Fire Station A portion of the parapet segment fell on a passing autorickshaw on LBS Road in Mulund West Four persons were injured and shifted to a nearby hospital One of them succumbed to injuries while the remaining three are undergoing treatmentMMRDA said that it will bear the complete medical expenses of the injured and provide financial assistance to the family of the victim on priority as per policyMumbai Metro Line4 slab collapseMMRDA launches highlevel probeMMRDA has also constituted a highlevel inquiry committee headed by Basavraj M Bhadragond director projects to determine the precise cause of the segment collapse The committee will examine construction methodology quality control systems supervision mechanisms contractor compliance and thirdparty oversight processes A detailed report has been sought on priorityImmediately after the incident the project team secured the area barricaded the affected stretch and commenced a detailed structural safety assessment in coordination with BMC disaster management authorities local police and fire brigade officials MMRDA saidAdditional Metropolitan Commissioner Ashwin Mudgal and other senior officials inspected the site directed precautionary measures visited the injured at the hospital and arranged for an independent assessment by a team from Fortis Hospital the authority further statedConstruction activity on the concerned stretch has been temporarily halted as a precautionary measureAddressing reports on social media MMRDA also clarified that certain circulating visuals pertain to a previously flagged location that is geographically separate from Pier P196 where Saturdayrsquos incident occurred This aspect will nevertheless be examined during the inquiry to ensure complete transparency MMRDA saidIn a statement MMRDA said ldquoWe are deeply saddened by the unfortunate incident near Pier P196 of Metro Line 4 and express our heartfelt condolences to the family of the deceased The safety of citizens remains our highest priority MMRDA remains fully committed to transparency accountability and the highest safety standards in execution of all infrastructure projectsrdquo