Bombay High Court Directs MMRDA To Submit Detailed Report On Mulund Metro Slab Collapse Within Two Weeks
The Bombay High Court on Wednesday directed the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority to file a detailed reply within two weeks to a public interest litigation seeking a third-party safety audit of all metro construction sites across the city.
The PIL was filed by advocate Ruju Thakker following last month's fatal slab collapse in Mulund that killed one person and injured three others.
The petition seeks directions to conduct an independent third-party safety audit of all Metro construction sites and urges authorities to submit a detailed report explaining the cause of the 14 February accident.
On that day, a portion of a parapet slab from the under-construction Mumbai Metro Line 4B collapsed on LBS Marg, crushing a moving autorickshaw and a private car.
Ramdhan Yadav, a farmer and village head from Uttar Pradesh, died at the scene, whilst the autorickshaw driver and cab driver sustained serious injuries.
The PIL also questions why the MMRDA has allegedly not initiated blacklisting proceedings against the contractor involved despite the fatal mishap.
Additionally, Thakker has sought details regarding compensation granted to the family of the deceased and to the injured victims.
As interim relief, the petition has requested the court to immediately halt Metro construction work along LBS Marg in Mulund West, near Friend's Academy, where the incident occurred, and to carry out a structural safety assessment.
In the petition, Thakker stated that she and several of her relatives reside in Mulund and frequently travel along LBS Marg, a key arterial road connecting eastern suburbs such as Ghatkopar and Thane.
She contended that the accident had created fear amongst commuters using roads passing beneath Metro structures. Following the collapse, the MMRDA halted construction on the 32.32-kilometre Metro Line 4 corridor and formed a 13-member Special Intensive Safety Inspection Team to examine possible structural risks.
The MMRDA had imposed fines totalling Rs 6 crore on contractors and suspended an executive engineer following the incident.
Mumbai Police arrested five officials, including project directors and managers, on charges related to alleged negligence in construction and supervision work on Metro Line 4.