‘Mismatch in bolts’, BMC to fine L&T 3cr for 2 workers’ deaths at Coastal Road-2 site

Mumbai: Nearly a month after two workers died after a platform they were on crashed 35ft to the ground at a casting yard site for the Coastal Road phase 2 project in Bhayander West, BMC has decided to impose a penalty of Rs 3 crore for negligence on the contractor, L&T.The action is being initiated following a probe report by Veermata Jijabai Technological Institute (VJTI), which flagged bolts of different dimensions and lapses in safety measures. "The platform (which was installed on an industrial gantry crane meant for handling concrete segments) failed to sustain the load as the bolts used for the brackets that held it to the gantry crane were of different specifications. The bolts should have been of the same specification. This is the primary cause behind the platform's collapse," said a senior BMC official. The probe also found that the platform's railing was low. Along with raising the railing's height, the institute recommended proper assessment of load calculation and load distribution, said the official. The probe report said care should be taken to ensure that there are no deficiencies in the execution of the structure as per the design, added the official. The report and the proposal to impose the penalty have been sent to the BMC chief for approval. The two workers—Raghunath Das (38) from Odisha and Kanha Singh (45) of Punjab—were carrying out cable-related work at the casting yard of Dahisar-Bhayander Link Road, which is part of the Coastal Road phase 2 project, when the platform collapsed on May 2. They succumbed to their injuries at the hospital.The civic administration is yet to clear the site for further work. "An internal safety audit will be carried out by the contractor and VJTI's recommendations will be adhered to. Thereafter, the site will be cleared. A third-party safety audit will also be carried out at this site and at all BMC construction sites," said another BMC official.