Mumbai metro pillar collapse: 5 arrested, Rs 5 crore fine on contractor; executive engineer suspended

Five arrested, Rs 5 crore fine imposed on contractor, and Executive Engineer suspended after Metro 4 parapet collapse in Mulund kills one and injures three.

• Metro 4 parapet collapse in Mumbai kills one, injures three
• Five arrested, contractor fined Rs 5 crore, engineer suspended
• State orders probe, safety audit, and halts work at the site

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Five people have been arrested and a Rs 5 crore fine imposed on the contractor after a portion of an under-construction Metro 4 parapet collapsed in Mumbai’s Mulund area, killing one person and injuring three others. The Executive Engineer overseeing the project has also been suspended, as the state government ordered a probe and a wider safety audit.

The accident has triggered political backlash and intensified scrutiny over safety compliance at infrastructure projects in the city.

The incident occurred around 12.20 pm on Saturday on LBS Road in Mulund (West), when a parapet segment of the under-construction elevated Metro Line 4 corridor (Wadala-Kasarvadavali route) collapsed and fell onto an autorickshaw and a car near the Johnson & Johnson Company premises.

Ramdhani Yadav (46), who was seated in the autorickshaw, died in the incident. The driver, Rajkumar Yadav (45), sustained critical injuries and was admitted to the ICU of a Mulund hospital. Mahendra Pratap Yadav (52) and Deepa Ruhiya (40) suffered injuries but are in stable condition.

Mumbai Police, Metro staff, the Mumbai Fire Brigade, ward officials and 108 ambulance services responded to the scene.

Contractor fined, five arrested

The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) imposed a ₹5 crore fine on the contractor Reliance Infrastructure-Astaldi (RAJV) and its sub-contractor Milan Road Buildtech LLP.

A general consultant consortium, DB Engineering & Consulting, Hill International Inc and Louis Berger Consulting Private Limited (DB Hill LBG), was fined Rs 1 crore.

Police arrested five individuals in connection with the incident: Milan Road Buildtech executives Harish Chauhan (project director), Kuldeep Sapkal (project manager), Saurab Singh (deputy project manager), supervisor Prashant Bhoir, and Hill International Inc project manager Avdhoot Inamdar.

“The specific construction activity at the concerned location was being undertaken by the sub-contractor, Milan Road Buildtech LLP, in accordance with established contractual arrangements,” a Reliance Infrastructure spokesperson said, adding that the company is cooperating with authorities.

Executive Engineer suspended

Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde ordered the immediate suspension of Executive Engineer Satyajeet Salve, taking serious note of the incident.

In a statement from the Deputy Chief Minister’s Office, Shinde expressed condolences to the family of the deceased and said the cost of treatment for the injured would be borne by MMRDA. He warned that officials compromising public safety would not be spared.

Inquiry ordered, safety audit planned

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis termed the incident 'very unfortunate' and ordered a thorough probe. The state government announced financial assistance of Rs 5 lakh to the kin of the deceased.

MMRDA has constituted a high-level inquiry committee to examine construction methodology, quality control systems, supervision mechanisms and contractor compliance, including third-party oversight processes. Construction activity at the affected stretch has been temporarily halted as a precaution.

A safety audit will be conducted across similar construction sites.

Political backlash and prior warnings

Opposition parties criticised the Mahayuti government, questioning safety standards at ongoing infrastructure works.

Local BJP MLA Mihir Kotecha claimed that standard operating procedures were not followed and that the contractor had previously been flagged for negligence. He said that during a joint inspection of a two-kilometre stretch of LBS Road last month, over 55 instances of serious negligence were documented and action was recommended.