The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) has imposed fines totaling Rs 1.5 crore against J Kumar Infraprojects Ltd due to the slow progress of work on Metro Line 2B, which runs from D N Nagar to Mandale.
J Kumar Infraprojects was awarded the contract for Package L2B-C101, covering a 12.8-kilometer stretch that includes elevated viaducts and stations at locations such as ESIC Nagar, Prem Nagar, and Indra Nagar. MMRDA sources indicate that the contractor is significantly behind schedule, with only 67% of civil work completed against the target of 81%. Moreover, the laying of the viaduct, crucial for track installation, remains incomplete; the contractor was expected to lay nearly 1.8 kilometers of the viaduct but did not meet this benchmark.
The first penalty of approximately Rs 1.2 crore was levied in September, followed by a Rs 46 lakh fine in October. This is not the first instance of financial repercussions for J Kumar Infraprojects; on July 18, the Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation Ltd imposed a ?1 crore penalty for inadequate preparedness during monsoon conditions, which led to rainwater ingress on July 6 and 7. A second notice with a similar penalty was issued for another contract in the Phase I section, accumulating penalties of ?2 crore in July alone.
