‘Contractors to be penalised': MMRDA tackles delay with fresh manpower policy to expedite Mumbai Metro works

As Mumbai gears up to bring over 150 km of Metro corridors into operation, the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) has enforced a manpower mobilisation policy to curb delays and tighten project execution timelines.
For the first time, contractors working on Metro projects will face financial penalties for workforce shortages, marking a disciplined approach towards delivering Mumbai's most ambitious infrastructure project.
Under the new policy, stricter penalties are now mandatory. A shortfall of 25 per cent to 50 per cent in manpower at project sites will incur a daily penalty of Rs 1 lakh, while that exceeding 50 per cent will result in a daily penalty of Rs 2 lakh.
Furthermore, a failure to meet project key dates (KDs) will trigger additional contractual penalties. MMRDA has clarified that there will be no exceptions or warnings.
With several of its Metro corridors such as Metro Lines 2B, 5, 6, 7A, and 9 reaching critical stages of construction and trials, the policy is viewed as an essential step in keeping the momentum and preventing delays.
Dr Sanjay Mukherjee, Metropolitan Commissioner of MMRDA, 'We appointed dedicated team leaders for each Metro package, which has made a significant difference in site progress. This new policy is the next logical step. We aim to commission multiple Metro corridors by the end of this year. We are not just working faster we're working smarter.'
Regular site inspections and manpower reviews will be carried out as part of normal operating procedures. These will be overseen by general consultants and Metro engineering teams that have been appointed for every corridor, he said on Wednesday.
Team leaders have also been dedicated to individual Metro packages to enhance accountability and facilitate progress monitoring.
Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, who is also the MMRDA Chairman, has endorsed the policy. 'This is about momentum. MMRDA is working on an unprecedented scale, and there is no room for compromise. We owe it to our commuters to stay on track—literally and figuratively. If that means enforcing tough measures, so be it. Time lost is opportunity lost,' he said.
This decision is seen to be important in the management of Metro projects in Mumbai with a clear message of execution being the priority by MMRDA.

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