DMRC says it is fully within its rights to keep information regarding design and material to itself
DMRC says it is fully within its rights to keep information regarding design and material to itself
Six people killed, 12 injured, a city shaken, yet the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) feels it is not bound to part with the design layout of its crumbling structures.
The "pride of Delhi", DMRC, snubbed a Right to Information (RTI) plea by a group of concerned citizens who sought structural drawings and details of pile foundation and superstructure. "The required information is the intellectual property of the DMRC and therefore, exempted from disclosure under Sections 8(1)(d) of the RTI Act."
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The applicants have now approached the Central Information Commissioner's office regarding their plea, which was filed following the Metro pillar collapse near Zamrudpur in which six labourers were killed.
An inquiry into the incident, over which Metro chief E Sreedharan offered to resign, revealed that the pillar collapsed due to "design and material deficiencies."
The residents are afraid that the construction methodology and designs of other structures along the corridor could also be 'faulty' and could lead to another disaster.
"For quite a long time now, no work is being carried out at that point. The enquiry into the Zamrudpur pillar collapse has categorically said the design team of the DMRC is not equipped to check each and every drawing.
The area falls under seismic zone-IV and thus any shortcoming may prove deadly as the area around the corridor is densely populated," said one of the applicants, wishing not to be named.
A spokesperson for Delhi Metro said the information sought is the intellectual property of DMRC as considerable cost and time have been spent in preparing the design details of the projects.
"We are not bound to give information sought by the applicants under the relevant section of RTI Act. The inquiry report into the Zamrudpur incident has already been made public," he said.
He further said that a private firm has been engaged to look into the shortcomings, if any, across the Phase-II network of the Metro. "As far as work along the corridor is concerned, it is still on."u00a0
The Other Side
A spokesperson for DMRC said:
"We are not bound to give information sought by the applicants as it is the intellectual property of the DMRC and therefore, exempted from disclosure under Sections 8(1)(d) of the RTI Act. The detailed inquiry report into the Zamrudpur incident has already been made public."
What the probe report said
>>Designers should check material and workmanship of special structures to certify compliance with design.
>>Identify those special viaducts, structures already constructed which may require audit of the design and quality of construction in order to ensure compliance to sound engineering.
>>The design team should be strengthened to ensure rigorous checking of special structures. Certified drawings should be made a pre-requisite for construction to proceed.
>>Contractors should provide third party checking of designs, which are part of their scope of work.
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