BMC suspends staffer for 3 days over negligence in Metro 3 tunnel damage

Mumbai: The BMC's A ward has suspended a junior overseer (JO) for alleged negligence in failing to take action or inform senior officials after an unauthorised borewell was dug on a state govt plot, damaging a section of the underground Mumbai Metro Line 3 tunnel near Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus earlier this month.A civic official said the JO, in whose jurisdiction the incident occurred, neither initiated legal proceedings nor alerted superiors and other departments concerned, despite being aware of the development. "He has been suspended for three days from March 25 for dereliction of duty," the official said.The plot where the borewell was dug falls under the deputy director of the state sports department, and the work was being carried out by a contractor appointed by the department. Civic officials said the borewell was dug without BMC's permission. "We approached the police, but since an FIR had already been registered, no separate complaint was filed," the official added.Police have invoked multiple provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita along with the Metro Railway (Operation and Maintenance) Act, 2002. Section 125 of the BNS pertains to negligent acts endangering human life or safety, while Sections 324(5) and 326(b) relate to mischief causing damage to property, including critical public infrastructure. Section 78 of the Metro Act deals specifically with damage to Metro railway property and acts that could compromise operational safety.