Larsen & Toubro (L&T) has been penalised ₹1 crore after a Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) internal inquiry held the firm directly responsible for the fatal collapse of two I-girders near its Manapakkam office. The incident claimed the life of a motorcyclist, C Ramesh.
A senior CMRL official confirmed that the probe pinned the primary blame on both L&T and the General Consultant (GC) supervising the project. As a result, L&T’s Chief Safety Manager and Senior ESHS Manager were dismissed from duty. Similarly, the GC’s Safety Engineer and Senior Deputy Resident Engineer were also terminated for failing in their oversight roles.
The collapse, which occurred during ongoing work on Corridor 5 — a 47-km elevated metro stretch from Madhavaram to Sholinganallur — was caused by the failure of a temporary steel A-frame support. These A-frames, meant to stabilize girders before permanent installation, gave way when their fastening buckles failed, leading to the accident.
So far, approximately 700 out of 2,500 girders have been installed along this stretch. The tragedy has prompted CMRL to initiate a comprehensive safety audit across the metro’s elevated infrastructure.
Meanwhile, the victim’s wife, R Rekha, has received ₹25 lakh in compensation — ₹20 lakh from L&T and ₹5 lakh from CMRL. She is now seeking ₹88 lakh, citing her late husband’s earning potential and their daughter’s future. Rekha, a nurse in Porur, is currently in Nagercoil with her family to perform final rites.