Delhi Metro chief visited accident site in May. Had advised demolition of the killer pillar. Reportedly, his technical advisers shot it down

If Delhi Metro Rail Corporation's (DMRC) Managing Director E Sreedharan had trusted his judgement instead of listening to his advisers, Anshuman Pratihar might have been alive today.



The twenty-eight-year-old site engineer from Kolkata, working with Gammon India, a contractor carrying out Metro construction in Delhi, was one of the victims of Sunday morning's accident near Kailash Colony in South Delhi, in which six people were killed as blocks from a 'cracked' Metro pillar fell on them.

Falling from the sky: The Delhi Metro Rail accident site near East of Kailash on Sunday. At least six people were killed when an under construction pillar collapsed. PIC/IMTIYAZ KHAN

Sreedharan had visited the site in May this year and if sources in DMRC are to be believed, he had advised the killer pillar be demolished as he was 'unhappy with its safety standards.' However, his technical advisers shot down the idea and the pillar remained with a few 'hasty patchworks.'

"During his visit to the spot in May, Sreedharan had advised field officials to bring down the pillar. However, as the DMRC technical committee assured him it was not a grave problem and would not pose any danger, he did not persist," said a senior DMRC official wishing anonymity.u00a0 Sreedharan accepted the pillar had developed cracks.

While addressing the media after the accident, Sreedharan said, "It is very rare I defy suggestions of my colleagues."u00a0 While the DMRC head was hinting that his colleagues had tried to dissuade him from resigning, did the comment inadvertently reveal an inner turmoil?

Killer pillar

The accident took place as one of the pillars of the under-construction bridge gave in when a launcher was fixing a concrete segment close to Lady Sriram College at around 5am on Sunday.

When the pillar had started showing cracks in March this year, work in the section was halted and a technical committee comprising senior DMRC officials was formed to survey the problem. "The technical committee had advised reinforcement measures to strengthen the pillar. Gammon India, the contractor, reinforced the pillar but it wasn't enough," said a senior official working with DMRC, wishing anonymity.

Here lies the cause

The main reason behind the incident, if DMRC insiders are to be believed, is insufficient time in which the project had to be completed. "The project plan for the 20-km-long Badarpur-Central Secretariat line (of which the deadly pillar was a part) was approved by the Central government in 2008. The route had to be finished before the Commonwealth Games. If the contractor went by the safety book, he wouldn't have been able to meet the deadline. So he cut corners," said the official.

Taking responsibility

Smelt something fishy? Metroman E Sreedharan announcing his resignation as DMRC managing director at Metro headquarters in New Delhi on Sundayu00a0u00a0 PIC/RAJEEV TYAGI Read Next Story Learner's licence drives closer› Trending Stories Latest Photos Latest Videos Latest Web Stories ADVERTISEMENT Mid-Day Fast ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT