Mumbai metro slab collapses in Mira Bhayandar; contractor fined Rs 10 crore

On November 1, 2023, a granite slab from an unfinished Mumbai Metro Line 9 collapsed onto a road in Mira Bhayandar, Thane. The incident occurred around 11:50 am during the construction process. The slab's fall punctured the tires of a school van that had been passing through the area after the accident. Despite reports circulating that the granite had fallen on the school van, the Municipal Municipal Regional Development Authority (MMRDA) clarified that no granite stones actually struck the vehicle.

Instead, scattered pieces of granite were picked up by a passing vehicle, causing damage to its tires. No students were onboard the van, and no injuries were reported. Contractor J Kumar was fined Rs 10 crore, while Gajanan, responsible for station integration, and Systra-CEG, the general consultant, were ordered to pay Rs 1.5 crore and Rs 1 crore respectively.

J Kumar maintained that he had no involvement in the incident. Project manager Subrata Das Adhikary blamed the accident on a crane operator's miscalculation, stating that the safety railing, installed by contractor J Kumar, was later removed by the finishing contractor, M/s N.A. Gajanan Construction, for material shifting activities.