Serious design deficiency led to metro mishap, says Reddy

New Delhi, Jul 28 (PTI) The recent accident at the
Delhi Metro site in South Delhi that claimed six lives was
caused by "serious deficiency" in design and inadequate
concrete strength, Lok Sabha (Lower House of Indian
Parliament) was informed Tuesday.

Following an enquiry, the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation
(DMRC) has blacklisted the design consultancy firm for five
years, debarred the structural consultant for two years and
issued a show cause notice to M/S Gammon India asking why it
should not be blacklisted for two years, Indian Urban
Development Minister S Jaipal Reddy said in the House.

The DMRC also suspended two Deputy Chief Engineers,
issued a major penalty chargesheet against Chief Engineer
(Design), demobilised and replaced the expatriate consultant
of General Consultants who was directly responsible for
ensuring quality of work, he said.

The main findings of the probe into the July 12
collapse of a launching girder and a portion of a viaduct were
that the accident was caused by "serious deficiency" in the
design of the cantilever arm and that the concrete did not
have "adequate strength probably due to lack of (its) adequate
curing," Reddy said.

However, the Minister maintained that while DMRC has
found visible cracks on 18 cantilever piers across the metro
rail network, these were being thoroughly examined whether the
damage was superficial or structural. PTI ARC