DMRC sends back project director

The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) today ordered the return of a senior official and initiated security audit of its critical structures after it started taking action in connection with recent mishaps at a construction site here.

In its first punitive action since the Sunday mishap, Delhi Metro today ordered the return of Project Director Vijay Anand, who is director in-charge of the Central Secretariat–Badarpur line of Phase-II, where a serious accident on Sunday claimed lives of six employees.

Delhi Metro, in a late night release, clarified that Anand has been sent back on his request.

The incident also impelled DMRC Managing Director E Sreedharan to quit, owning moral responsibility, only to take it back after the Delhi government refused to accept his resignation.

Sources in the DMRC say that more heads are likely to roll and this is just the beginning.

Meanwhile, the clean-up act at the accident site continued throughout the day. The traffic is moving on one side of the road. The DMRC has paid compensation to the next of kin of those who died and those who were injured in the mishap at the construction site three days ago. Out of Rs 5 lakh announced, Rs 50,000 has been paid as interim relief in cash to the next of kin of each of the six deceased.

The remaining amount will be converted into a fixed deposit for three years.

Seven persons, who suffered major injuries, have been given the full compensation of Rs 50,000, while eight persons with minor injuries have been paid Rs 10,000 each.

Shirish Patel and Associates, which was appointed to undertake technical audit of critical structures has started the work. BP Singh, who is an expert on erection of heavy structures, has also started his inquiry into Monday’s mishap involving cranes.