Mumbai Metro 4 Construction Halted Amid Safety Concerns
Mumbai: The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) has halted all construction activities on the 32.32-kilometre Metro 4 corridor following a tragic parapet collapse incident at a metro site in Mulund on Saturday. This incident claimed the life of one person. In response, the MMRDA has constituted a ‘Special Intensive Safety Inspection Team’ comprising 13 officials to thoroughly examine safety lapses along the entire Metro 4 route.
Construction will only resume once the team submits its report and the necessary measures are implemented to address any identified lapses, according to an internal office order issued by Additional Metropolitan Commissioner Ashwin Mudgal, which Hindustan Times has accessed.
On Sunday, the MMRDA also informed the Deputy Commissioner of Police (Zone 7) that the main contractor, subcontractor, or general consultant may have been responsible for Saturday’s parapet collapse incident.
“Preliminary assessments suggest that the incident occurred due to negligence on the part of the concerned contractor or subcontractor and a lack of adequate supervision by the general consultant of Metro 4. A detailed investigation is being initiated to determine the exact cause and fix responsibility,” stated the MMRDA.
The 13-member inspection team is tasked with conducting a comprehensive, corridor-wise inspection, covering every aspect of the Metro 4 project. They will cross-check the actual construction work with architectural drawings and inspect various elements such as parapets, edge beams, crash barriers, handrails, attachments, structural elements above live traffic, public access areas, safety nets, barricading, and traffic protection measures.
The inspection began on Sunday morning and is expected to continue for another 3-4 days. If any safety lapses are identified, the team has been instructed to flag them immediately.
“Once the inspection is complete, we will prepare a list of safety lapses and the corresponding corrective measures,” an MMRDA official said, speaking on condition of anonymity. “Only after these measures are in place will permission be given to resume construction.”
The MMRDA is taking this incident very seriously and is committed to ensuring the safety of both workers and the public. The suspension of construction and the rigorous inspection process are part of the authority’s efforts to prevent future accidents and maintain the highest standards of safety on all metro projects in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region.
