Mumbai: The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority decided to retain the general consultant (GC) for Metro Line 4 despite a recent construction incident, after an inquiry concluded that the failure was caused by a welder’s error and not due to any systemic flaw in design or supervision.The incident occurred on Feb 14 on LBS Road in Mulund West near the Johnson & Johnson plant, when a 1.8-tonne precast parapet segment fell from the viaduct onto a moving auto-rickshaw and a car, killing one person and injuring three others.The decision to continue with the same consultant — seen as the most significant outcome of the probe — comes even as MMRDA imposed penalties of ₹5 crore on the contractor and Rs 1 crore on the GC. Officials said the findings ruled out institutional culpability of the consultant, a position that was further reinforced by relief granted by the court, noting no direct involvement of the GC.Senior officials said replacing the GC at this stage was not considered viable, with nearly 80% of the project already completed. “Appointing a new consultant would set the project back by at least six to seven months, impacting timelines and public convenience,” an official said.Instead, MMRDA has opted for continuity with stricter controls. The entire GC team has been replaced to ensure fresh accountability, while a series of non-negotiable safeguards have been enforced. These include mandatory joint inspections before critical activities, a permit-based system for dismantling works, enhanced supervision at sites, and compulsory documentation of all instructions to eliminate verbal orders.Additional measures such as segment tagging, daily safety briefings, and strict adherence to standard operating procedures — particularly for high-risk activities — have also been mandated. A zero-tolerance clause has been invoked, with officials warning of immediate termination in case of any future lapse.MMRDA maintained that the decision balances accountability with project continuity. While the contractor’s execution failure has been addressed through penalties and team changes, retaining the consultant is aimed at avoiding delays in a key infrastructure corridor.
