Daijiworld Media Network- Mumbai

Mumbai, Jun 19: With the sprawling Mumbai Metro network poised to transform the city’s commuting landscape, the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) has taken a no-nonsense approach to ensure that deadlines are met and delays are curbed.

In a significant policy decision aimed at fast-tracking metro construction, the MMRDA has introduced a stringent manpower mobilisation policy to tackle persistent workforce-related delays. Contractors working on over 150 km of metro corridors currently under construction will now face heavy penalties for manpower shortfalls.

Under the new policy:

• A 25% to 50% shortage in the assigned workforce will attract a penalty of Rs 1 lakh per day.

• A shortfall of more than 50% will lead to a penalty of Rs 2 lakh per day.

• Delays in meeting project Key Dates (KDs) will trigger additional penalties in accordance with contract terms.

Crucially, these actions will be enforced without prior notice, sending a strong message that project timelines are sacrosanct and non-negotiable.

This marks one of the most stringent and structured accountability measures adopted by the MMRDA in recent years. With Mumbai’s commuters waiting anxiously for seamless metro connectivity, the authority appears determined to eliminate excuses and accelerate progress on long-awaited routes.