Mumbai: Metro Line 2A completion was delayed, reveals RTI; contractors fined

Mumbai Metro. Pic/ Nimesh Dave

With so much delay in completion of metro Line 2A, a new RTI has revealed that a penalty of only Rs 36 lakh has been levied on various contractors under metro 2A for the delay.

A Right to Information query has revealed that the MMRDA has levied a fine of Rs 36 lakh on various contractors for delay of work by 36 months. The much-awaited Metro 2A from Dahisar East to Andheri West will be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday.

RTI activist Anil Galgali, who had sought information from the MMRDA about the current status of the metro work and the penal action imposed on the contractors, has been informed by Delhi Metro Railway Corporation that the deadline has been extended by 36 months and only 36 lakhs penalty has been imposed on the contractors for delay in work.

Galgali said that the Metro 2A service from Dahisar East to Andheri West was scheduled to start on December 31, 2019, but the first phase from Dahisar East to Dahanukar Wadi was started on April 2, 2022. The second phase was completed in January 2023.

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"Overall, there was a delay of 36 months. Penalties were imposed in case of safety violations in civil works and various safety improvements were taken up on the site. But the information was not given. A fine of 36 lakh has been levied for delay in electrical work. A fine of Rs 4.44 lakh was imposed on one contractor, Rs 1.50 lakh on another, Rs 1.53 lakh on yet another and also a major fine of Rs 28.54 lakh on an international contractor," he said.

A copy of the RTI reply is with mid-day, Mumbai Metro Line 2A spokesperson was not immediately available for a comment.