Airport Express line: DMRC at fault, says probe panel

An expert committee has held Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) responsible for major defects in civil works that led to suspension of services on the 22.7-km Airport Express line.

An expert committee has held Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) responsible for major defects in civil works that led to suspension of services on the 22.7-km Airport Express line.

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Train services on the line were suspended in July last year and a two-member expert committee was formed by the ministry of urban development (MoUD) to probe into the matter.

The report, which was submitted to the ministry on March 30, was compiled by AK Gupta, additional member (Works) in the Railway Board and additional secretary D Diptivilasa. It is now being scrutinised by the ministry and if DMRC is found to be guilty, action would be taken against its top managers, sources said.

"We have received the report and are examining it," said Sudhir Krishna, secretary, MoUD.

The report held top management of the DMRC, including current chief Mangu Singh, who was then director (works) for neglecting issues of overall control and monitoring the defects on the line. Other top officials named in the report are Kumar Keshav, then director (projects) and RN Joshi then director (finance).

DMRC chief Mangu Singh, however, preferred not to comment on the report. "I have not received the report and so cannot comment on it," he said.

According to sources, nine different aspects, including the design and quality of civil structure and whether there was delay in detection of faults that led to the closure of the operations, were investigated by the committee. It submitted its consolidated report at least six months behind the deadline.

The report pointed out that there were major defects in civil works due to crushing of grout material (a construction material used to connect sections of pre-cast concrete).