A reinforcement cage from the under-construction Anand Nagar–Saket Elevated Road project fell onto a moving car near Kopri Bridge in Thane on Saturday, damaging the vehicle’s front windshield. The woman driving the car escaped without injuries, police said.
The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA), which is overseeing the project, imposed a penalty of Rs 2 crore on the contractor after taking serious note of the incident. The authority also ordered a detailed investigation to determine what caused the reinforcement cage to topple and whether there were safety lapses at the construction site.
MMRDA said the damaged vehicle had been removed from the area and that the fallen reinforcement cage was being cleared with the assistance of a crane. The authority said corrective measures would be enforced to prevent a recurrence and reiterated that public safety remained its highest priority.
The incident occurred near Kopri Bridge, a key entry point for traffic travelling from Thane towards Mumbai. The obstruction caused heavy congestion on the Mumbaibound stretch while the damaged car and fallen cage were being removed from the road.
The Anand Nagar–Saket Elevated Road is being constructed to improve movement through the congested corridor in Thane. The incident occurred while work was under way on a pier of the elevated road, according to the report. The reinforcement cage formed part of the structural work being carried out at the site.
Yogesh Avhad, senior police inspector at Naupada police station, said no first information report had been registered in connection with the incident so far. He said the woman had been called to the police station three times but had declined to appear, stating that she had no complaint and did not wish to lodge an FIR.
“If she comes only then will an FIR be registered,” Avhad said.
The MMRDA’s investigation will examine the circumstances surrounding the collapse and identify any lapses in construction-site safety. The authority’s stated corrective measures and the contractor’s compliance will determine the next steps at the project site.
