Weeks after coastal road mishap killed 2 labourers, BMC to impose Rs 3 crore fine on contractor | Mumbai News
3 min readMumbaiMay 28, 2026 06:45 PM IST
Almost a month after two labourers died after falling from an industrial gantry crane at a casting yard site for the Mumbai Coastal Road Project (Phase 2) in the Mira Bhayander area of the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) on May 2, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) is set to impose a penalty of Rs 3 crore on the contractor responsible for executing the work and maintaining the facility.
The action follows an investigation report submitted by Veermata Jijabai Technological Institute (VJTI). Civic sources said the institute identified multiple safety lapses at the worksite and suggested several corrective interventions.
“The report has been sent to the municipal commissioner’s office for review. After that, an official letter will be issued to the contractor asking them to pay the penalty amount of Rs 3 crore. In the meantime, VJTI’s recommendations will be shared with them immediately so that the measures are implemented without delay,” a senior civic official said.
On May 2, workers Raghunath Das (38) and Kanha Singh (45) had climbed onto a platform located around 35 feet above the ground to carry out routine inspections when it collapsed, causing them to fall. Officials said the inquiry found that the crane did not have adequate load-bearing capacity. Sources added that although the workers were wearing safety harnesses, they had been fastened only to a cable railing, exposing them to the risk of falling. VJTI has therefore recommended the immediate installation of a lifeline safety cable to which workers can securely attach their harnesses.
Officials further said the institute found that the railings on the maintenance platform were not high enough. Among its recommendations was replacing the current M10 bolts used in assembling the crane with stronger M12 bolts to prevent structural failure under pressure.
VJTI has also suggested extending the railing posts by up to six feet and connecting them to the crane’s main girder using cables. It further proposed providing additional support to the structure through a cantilever-like system to improve stability.
“We have appointed a third-party agency to carry out a safety audit at all casting yards and construction sites set up for this project. Even though the contractors have their own structural consultants, our agency will work independently and submit a detailed report,” the official added.
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Earlier this year, a police constable died after a portion of a construction rig fell on him at a flyover construction site on the Sion-Panvel Highway in Mumbai’s eastern suburbs. Following the incident, the BMC imposed a Rs 1 crore penalty on the contractor for poor maintenance.
Before that, on February 14, a slab from the parapet wall of a Metro viaduct in Mulund fell onto a rickshaw and a car, killing one person and injuring three others. The incident led to the arrest of multiple officials, including the project director and project manager.
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