Following a mid-day report of citizens complaining about loose and displaced parapets, amid increasing fears among citizens regarding the safety of the Metro Line 4 structure following the recent parapet collapse incident, Mulund BJP MLA Mihir Kotecha conducted a joint inspection of the Metro Line 4 stretch along LBS Road on Wednesday, accompanied by officials from the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) and BMC officials from T ward. The MLA has demanded a third-party audit of the corridor.
On Wednesday, the joint inspection was carried out covering seven to eight locations along Metro Line 4 on the LBS Road stretch in Mulund. The MMRDA team was led by Chief Engineer Madhukar Kharat. It was accompanied by T ward officer Yogita Kolhe, the disaster management team, and local corporators Dr Hetal Gala Morvekar and Deepika Ghag.
Mulund BJP MLA Mihir Kotecha (in Nehru jacket) inspects the site along with MMRDA and civic officials
“Following Saturday’s parapet collapse incident, residents have been sending photographs highlighting visible alignment issues, gaps, and level differences in the parapet walls of the elevated corridor. Close to 500 similar images were forwarded to the T ward disaster management team and me by citizens,” said Kotecha.
Structure safe
Kotecha said officials acknowledged minor technical and finishing defects, particularly in parapet wall alignment, but maintained that the structure is safe and its stability has not been compromised. “But why were such defects not identified earlier by consultants and auditors during or immediately after installation, which in some cases took place eight to 12 months ago? Why didn’t consultants and auditors notice them after the casting?” asked Kotecha.
Third party audit
He further stated that Metro systems in developed cities across the world reflect high-quality standards. “The Maharashtra government has released full payments to contractors as per agreements. Therefore, a comprehensive third-party quality control and safety audit of the entire Metro Line 4 corridor must be conducted. Strict action should be taken against consultants and auditors found responsible for lapses, even if the structural safety remains uncompromised,” demanded Kotecha.
GIS tagging of locations
Kotecha urged the MMRDA to conduct GIS (Geographic Information System) tagging of the identified locations and issue a technical advisory with photographic documentation. “This will help in reducing fear in the minds of people,” MLA added.
