Noida: Noida Metro Rail Corporation (NMRC) has issued a show-cause notice to real estate developer M3M India for disrupting Aqua Line metro services after a heavy lifting sling attached to a crane operating at the developer’s under-construction project snapped and entangled with the overhead equipment (OHE) of the Aqua Line near Sector 51 and 50 stations. Services were affected for an hour on Sunday.NMRC executive director Kranti Shekhar said the developer has been asked to respond within three days. Officials said NMRC will initiate action and recover the cost of repairs and damages upon an unsatisfactory reply.In the notice, NMRC stated that M3M’s project team was instructed not to allow the crane boom to extend over the metro corridor under any circumstances in Aug last year. The company was also directed to keep the crane boom locked within the construction site when not in use or during adverse weather conditions.M3M is developing a commercial complex near Sector 51 metro station. On Sunday, a heavy lifting sling attached to a crane snapped and fell on the live overhead equipment (OHE) between Sector 50 and Sector 51 metro stations. It damaged the pantographs — roof-mounted devices on an electric metro or train that collect electricity from the overhead wire — of some metro trains as well as OHE components.The damage was first reported when a moving train’s pantograph malfunctioned and the train stopped at Sector 83 station. Commuters on board were later evacuated from the stranded train, which was then brought to the depot for repair work.On Wednesday, Skyline Propcon Pvt Ltd, a group company of M3M India Pvt Ltd and the principal developer of the project, put out a statement acknowledging the notice.“Skyline deeply regrets the occurrence of the incident referred to in the notice and fully recognises the seriousness of the concerns raised. A comprehensive review of all relevant facts is currently underway, including an examination of the role and conduct of the concerned contractor. Based on the information available at this stage and interim findings of the ongoing investigation, Skyline has not identified any credible evidence indicating that the incident or any alleged lapse was attributable to activities undertaken at the project site,” the statement read.Skyline said the investigation into the incident is ongoing and that the company is committed to examining every relevant aspect before arriving at any final conclusions.The Aqua Line connects Noida’s Sector 51 to Depot Station in Greater Noida and records an average daily ridership of around 60,705 passengers, as per June 2026 data.
