DMRC imposes stringent safety norms on contractors violating norms

New Delhi, Jul 27 (UNI) In wake of a couple of accidents on its construction sites in the past few weeks, the Delhi Metro Railway Corporation today said it was taking strict action against contactors violating safety and housekeeping norms at its construction sites.

''DMRC is taking strict action against contractors violating safety and housekeeping norms at its construction sites by imposing heavy fines as required on a case to case basis,''DMRC spokesperson Anuj Dyal said.

According to the Safety Health and Environment Manual that is a part of all DMRC contracts, contractors are liable to be fined Rs 200/- per person if workers are not wearing Personal Protection Equipment (helmets, safety shoes, high visibility jackets), Rs 1 to 2 lakh for non-issuance of identity cards, Rs 1 to 2 lakh per month for employing inadequate or unqualified workers and Rs. 10,000/- for inadequate housekeeping and high noise levels.

''Stricter fines will be in place for non-certification of cranes on time and improper safety precautions for working at heights,''the spokesperson said.

In this context, he said the DMRC imposed a fine of Rs 1 lakh on the contractor at Saket for not maintaining cleanliness on roads and Rs 50,000/- for improper barricading at Moolchand.

Mr Dyal said International experts of the General Consultants and Airport Line Consultants, besides DMRC's Safety Welfare and Environment Officers have been asked to regularly inspect the sites and make recommendations for fine when necessary.

''DMRC was the first organisation in the city to initiate strict safety norms at its sites such as barricading construction zones, providing Personal Protection Equipment to all workers and deploying Traffic Marshalls,''he said.

Major crane lifting operations which could possibly endanger the safety of the public in the nearby areas are being carried out only between 10 pm and 6 am under the supervision of senior officers.

However, construction activities involving lifting which are safe continue to be done in the day time.

Attributing the accidents in the few weeks to the enormity of the task of constructing the Phase II of the Metro network, he said, ''DMRC has a very tough task as more than 15,000 to 20,000 workers of over 100 contractors and sub contractors are working over 125 kms spread out in Delhi and NCR areas, attempting to complete the Metro's Phase II in only three and a half years which is among the tightest schedule in the world.

The Metro Rail authorities want to ensure quality and timely completion of the project while keeping strict safety norms.'' A couple of accidents on the construction sites of the Delhi Metro in the past few weeks have put a question mark over Delhi Metro's hitherto clean record.

In the most recent accident, on July 19, a malfunctioning in a crane at a Delhi Metro construction site near the Ram Manohar Lohia hospital resulted in some construction material falling on a passing car, injuring four people, of which the driver was seriously injured. The driver was trapped inside the SUV due to the debris and sustained multiple fractures.

UNI AR SV RAI1614