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After Metro Line 9 Safety Scare, MMRDA Slaps Rs 12.5 Crore Penalty On 3 Agencies
Granite stones fell at a Metro Line 9 station and punctured a school van’s tyres. MMRDA has now imposed Rs 12.5 crore in penalties
Summarized by AI.
Mumbai News:A safety lapse at the elevated Medetiya Nagar station of Metro Line 9, connecting Dahisar East with Mira Bhayander, has prompted the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) to impose penalties totalling Rs 12.5 crore on the contractor and two agencies, as reported by The Times of India.
The action follows an incident on Monday, August 17, when granite stones fell into a barricaded work area during debris removal and material-shifting work. Some of the scattered pieces were subsequently run over by a passing school van, leaving its tyres punctured. The Rs 10 crore fine imposed on J Kumar Infraprojects Ltd (JKIL) marks the highest penalty MMRDA has levied on the contractor to date.
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MMRDA has also penalised N A Gajanan Construction by Rs 1.5 crore and Systra-CEG-General Consultant by Rs 1 crore.
How The Granite Stones Fell At Medetiya Nagar
The incident occurred at around 11.50 am during ongoing debris removal and material-shifting work at the station.
According to MMRDA, a crane-operated material basket accidentally struck granite stones stacked near the foot overbridge (FOB), causing some of them to fall from the FOB level into the barricaded work area.
MMRDA clarified that the granite stones did not fall directly on or strike the school van. Instead, some of the scattered pieces fell into the area and were later run over by the vehicle, puncturing its tyres. No one was injured in the incident.
MMRDA Orders Corrective Measures
MMRDA said the penalties were imposed based on findings by its engineers and the project’s general consultant following an assessment of the incident. The authority has instructed all agencies involved in the project to adhere strictly to prescribed safety protocols and take corrective measures to prevent such incidents from recurring.
The agencies have also been asked to ensure that adequate safety arrangements remain in place during ongoing finishing and material-shifting work at the station.
J Kumar Disputes MMRDA Findings
According to the TOI report, JKIL has disputed both MMRDA’s findings and the Rs 10 crore penalty. In a statement, the company said it was not involved in the work at the centre of the incident and that finishing work on the section was being carried out by NA Gajanan Construction, the finishing contractor for the project.
JKIL also said it neither owned nor operated the crane involved in the incident.
The company claimed that the safety railing installed by JKIL at the location had been removed by the finishing contractor before the granite-lifting activity.
JKIL said it had submitted a formal representation to MMRDA detailing these facts and would extend full cooperation while the matter is reviewed. The company acknowledged the seriousness of the incident and said it was relieved that there was no loss of life or injury.
JKIL Has Faced Several MMRDA Penalties
The latest action follows several penalties imposed by MMRDA on JKIL since 2024 for project delays, poor workmanship and other lapses across its various projects.
MMRDA Penalties On JKIL Since March 2024
- March 2024 – SCLR Extension: Rs 50 lakh for delay in project work.
- July 2024 – SCLR Extension: Rs 50 lakh for potholes/road closure, plus Rs 10 lakh per day.
- September-October 2024 – Metro Line 2B: Rs 1.5 crore for slow progress.
- December 2024 – Metro Line 9: Rs 30 lakh following a fatal cement-mixer accident.
- 2025 – SCLR Cable-Stayed Flyover: Rs 10 lakh for poor workmanship.
- September 2025 – Metro Line 9: Rs 10 lakh after a hydraulic jack fell at the site.
- November 2025 – Metro Line 9: Rs 5 lakh for a safety violation/fire scare.
- April 2026 – Metro Line 2B: Rs 1 crore after a 400-tonne crane toppled.
- May 2026 – Sewri-Worli Elevated Connector: Rs 1 crore after a worker’s death, with safety and reporting lapses cited.
- July 2026 – Metro Line 9: Rs 10 lakh after a biker was injured during pothole-repair work.
- August 17, 2026 – Metro Line 9: Rs 10 crore after granite stones fell at Medetiya Nagar station.
Metro Construction Safety Under Scanner
Construction sites involving heavy materials and work at height require adequate barricading, protective structures and other safety measures to prevent construction material from reaching public roads.
The incident has renewed questions over whether adequate precautions were in place during the material-shifting work at Medetiya Nagar station. The presence of a school van carrying children near the construction zone has further highlighted the need for strict safety measures around areas regularly used by schoolchildren, motorists, pedestrians and other members of the public.
Metro Line 9 Phase II Nears Completion
The elevated 10.5-km Metro Line 9 is an extension of the operational Dahisar-Gundavli Metro Line 7. Phase I of Metro Line 9, comprising Dahisar East, Pandurang Wadi, Miragaon and Kashigaon stations, was inaugurated in April.
Work on Phase II, comprising Sai Baba Nagar, Medetiya Nagar, Shaheed Bhagat Singh Udyan and Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Udyan stations, is nearing completion.
Safety inspections and approvals are currently being undertaken ahead of opening the corridor for passenger services.
With the latest incident occurring during finishing and material-shifting work, MMRDA has directed the agencies involved to strengthen safety arrangements and ensure that prescribed protocols are followed throughout the remaining construction activities.
Key Questions Answered
Ask News18The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) has not yet announced new safety measures. However, construction sites involving heavy materials and work at height require adequate barricading, protective structures, and other safety measures to prevent construction material from reaching public roads.
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Original source: https://www.news18.com/
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