MADURAI: In connection with the death of a worker after a portion of the Madurai-Natham flyover collapsed on him, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) slapped fines of Rs 3 crore on the construction company, JMC Projects India, and Rs 40 lakh on the construction suggestion committee. The incident happened on August 28, 2021 after a portion of the under-construction flyover between Pandiyan Hotel junction and Chettikulam in Madurai collapsed.
Sources said the NHAI took the decision based on a report submitted by a team of experts from National Institute of Technology (NIT) in Tiruchy on December 11, 2021. The report cited fault in hydraulic cables, engagement of unskilled labourers and absence of engineer to supervise the works as the reasons for the incident.
The team, led by Professor K Baskar, had also suggested proper and sufficient training should be given to the labourers fixing girders. “At present, the joining wall is being constructed after fixing the girder. Hereafter, it should be made mandatory to construct the joining wall before fixing the girder. The construction company needs to get the approval of the NHAI expert committee before starting the construction,” the team had said.
The flyover was part of the Madurai-Natham National Highway project worth Rs 544.23 crore. The 7.3-km elevated four-lane bridge was initiated in November 2018 as part of Bharatmala Pariyojana, an umbrella programme launched by NHAI to develop road infrastructure across the country. Nearly 80% of the project has been completed by roping in as many as 400 migrant workers. The bridge will be thrown open to the public from October 22, 2022 NHAI officials said.