Biker Burned on Mira-Bhayandar Road; MMRDA Fines J Kumar Infraprojects Rs 10 Lakh
A biker sustained burn injuries on Saturday night after slipping on freshly laid, unbarricaded hot mastic asphalt on Mira-Bhayandar Road. Following the incident, the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) fined contractor J Kumar Infraprojects—which is also executing the Sewri-Worli Elevated Connector project—and its consultant a combined Rs 15 lakh for safety lapses.
According to advocate and activist Krishna Gupta, the incident occurred while MMRDA-appointed contractors were laying hot mastic asphalt to fill potholes that had emerged after torrential rain. Gupta alleged that the freshly laid asphalt was left unbarricaded, creating a hazardous oil slick that became even more dangerous due to ongoing rainfall.
"Two to three bikers slipped due to the oil slick on the hot mastic asphalt, as the affected portion was not barricaded," Gupta said. At least one biker suffered burn injuries to his arm after falling onto the hot material. Pothole-filling work at the site was temporarily halted after the incident.
The MMRDA stated it took immediate cognisance of the accident. A preliminary investigation by the authority revealed that mandatory safety precautions had not been fully followed during the execution of the work.
As a result, the MMRDA imposed a penalty of Rs 10 lakh on contractor J Kumar Infraprojects and Rs 5 lakh on the general consultant, the SYSTRA-CEG-SMCIPL consortium. However, the authority also stated that the motorcyclist was speeding and attempting to overtake at the time of the accident.
The incident has renewed safety concerns regarding MMRDA infrastructure projects. J Kumar Infraprojects was previously penalised Rs 1 crore, and consultant Asystem STUP Rs 25 lakh, following a fatal accident on May 5 at the Sewri-Worli Elevated Connector project on AD Road. In that incident, 19-year-old worker Ravi Giri died at KEM Hospital in Parel after being struck by a pier steel shutter.
Additionally, on June 15, a pillar shuttering caught fire during construction of Mumbai Metro Line 2B, another project involving J Kumar Infraprojects.
