Take claims about structural defects in Pune metro seriously: Bombay High Court to Maharashtra Metro

Claims and allegations about structural defects with the Pune metro rail should be taken seriously, the Bombay High Court told the Maharashtra Metro Rail Corporation Ltd (MahaMetro) on Monday..A division bench of Acting Chief Justice SV Gangapurwala and Justice Sandeep Marne remarked that the project was in the nature of public infrastructure affecting the life and safety of citizens."In matters of public project of this nature, there may not be laxity on the part of any of the stake holders and the persons manning the project," the Court emphasized. A technical institute in Pune assured the Court that an expert team will be constituted for a fresh structural audit of the Pune metro.The Court then disposed of the public interest litigation (PIL) petition which raised grievances against visible defects in the structure. .The PIL petition was filed by Narayan Kochak and Shirish Khabardar, structural engineers, through advocate Nikhil Dongre, seeking a court monitored probe into the quality of construction and structural safety of the super structure of metro stations of the Pune metro project. Kochak had observed gross negligence and lapse in the construction of Line 2 of metro, which could seriously endanger public life and safety.Advocates Pratik Rajopadhye appearing for petitioners, informed the Court that the negligence in the project would affect not only the commuters in the metro but also the passerbys and pedestrians below the metro line. .The counsel appearing for MahaMetro argued that the structure has been granted a structural stability certificate and that the PIL was frivolous. It was also contended that the COEP technical university of Pune had conducted a structural audit and structures were safe..At this point, Justice Marne pointed out that the MahaMetro was proceeding on an assumption that the structures were safe; but to make a scientific claim, scientific evidence would be required..The counsel appearing for COEP then informed the Court that the university will set up a fresh committee to carry out structural audit and will submit a report. Satisfied with this submission, the Court asked MahaMetro and COEP to take the claims of such defects seriously and proceeded to dispose of the petition. The Court directed COEP to submit its report after conducting an audit in 7 days. It also asked MahaMetro to upload the report on its website. .The Court also granted liberty to the petitioners to move the court again if he is not satisfied with the report..Rajopadhye appeared along with Advocates Abhishek Wakhle, Ashish Patankar and Ameya Ranade.[Read order]