Mumbai: The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) on Sunday ordered an immediate special intensive safety inspection across the entire Wadala–Kasarvadavali Metro 4 corridor, a day after a parapet segment of an underconstruction viaduct structure fell on an autorickshaw and a car that were passing below on LBS Road in Mulund, killing a 50-year-old man and injuring three others.Preliminary probe has suggested that the precast parapet installed on the night of February 12 was not properly concretised and its temporary fastening may have been disturbed during handling, causing it to dislodge and fall. MMRDA has cited prima facie negligence by the contractor RAJV-Milan Infra and the sub-contractor, along with inadequate supervision by the project’s general consultant DB-Hill-LBG consortium. It added that a detailed probe has been initiated to determine the exact cause of the fatal incident and fix responsibility. MMRDA has already suspended an executive engineer.On Sunday, the five arrested accused from RAJV-Milan Infra and DB-Hill-LBG consortium were remanded in three-day police custody by the Dadar holiday court. Mulund police said they are looking for two more persons — a welder and a project consultant.In an office order issued by additional metropolitan commissioner Ashwin Mudgal, MMRDA termed the safety inspection an “extraordinary preventive and corrective measure” following Saturday’s incident reported around 12.15pm near pier P196, close to the Mulund fire station, and said it would be carried out in addition to the ongoing accident inquiry. The inspection will continue for three to four days with day-wise documentation of unsafe conditions and corrective measures. A consolidated report recommending preventive steps and advising on resumption or continuation of works will be submitted to the competent authority on priority.Unlike a routine probe limited to the accident location, the inspection will cover the full corridor to identify systemic risks in design, execution or supervision. Officials said the decision was taken as the fallen element was a precast component installed above a busy traffic corridor, raising concerns about similar vulnerabilities elsewhere along the elevated alignment.The authority has constituted a multi-disciplinary safety inspection team headed by Basavraj M. Bhadragond, director (projects), MMRDA. The team includes senior quality, design and construction supervision engineers, along with external safety heads from other Metro lines who will independently record observations as part of the official record.The inspection has been divided into two stretches — Wadala to Sonapur under deputy team leader Abhijit Bhishikar, and Sonapur to Gaimukh under deputy team leader Madhukar Kharat — to enable parallel verification across the corridor. The audit will examine structural and safety components including parapets, edge beams, crash barriers, structural elements above live traffic, reinforcement detailing, anchorage, temporary supports, debris protection measures and barricading arrangements. It will also verify compliance with approved drawings, method statements and safety protocols.Significantly, the order empowers the team to act immediately. Any element found unsafe or non-compliant must be secured, removed or rectified without waiting for the final report, and construction activity at such locations can be restricted or suspended until written clearance is granted.Contractors, consultants and supervision staff have been directed to provide unrestricted site access and produce drawings, method statements and quality assurance records. Any lapse in compliance, supervision or execution will be recorded with responsibility attribution for action under contract provisions.Mulund police noted that no prior intimation was given to police, traffic department, BMC, or other authorities, and adequate safety precautions were not taken at the Metro 4 construction site despite public complaints. Police have registered an FIR against the project officials and other responsible persons concerned for negligence leading to death, grievous injuries, and damage to property under the relevant sections of the BNS.The arrested accused were identified as project director Harish Chauhan, project manager Kuldeep Sapkal, deputy manager Saurab Singh, and supervisor Prashant Bhoir from RAJV-Milan Infra, and project manager Avdhoot Inamdar from DB-Hill-LBG consortium. Mulund police senior inspector Ajay Joshi said they are looking for welder Ramashish and project consultant Sai Suresh.
