Metro Track Collapse in Chennai Claims Biker’s Life; BJP Blames DMK for Safety Lapses

Chennai, June 13 – A tragic incident occurred on Thursday night near the Larsen & Toubro (L&T) Head Office in Manapakkam, Chennai, where a portion of an under-construction metro rail track collapsed, resulting in the death of a 43-year-old motorcyclist, Ramesh, a resident of Nagercoil.

Reacting strongly to the incident, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and former Telangana Governor Dr. Tamilisai Soundararajan expressed deep condolences and launched a scathing attack on the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) government in Tamil Nadu. She accused the state administration of neglecting public safety and compromising construction standards.

“While one life is a precious life, this is a very busy road. Since it was night-time, a lot of people were saved. The DMK is compromising the safety of common people,” said Soundararajan while speaking to ANI.

She further alleged corruption in tendering processes and demanded a comprehensive safety audit of all ongoing construction activities in the state, especially in the capital city of Chennai.

“There is corruption in the tender procedures and a compromise on safety measures. A detailed safety audit must be conducted across all construction projects in Tamil Nadu,” she added.

The Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) confirmed the incident and announced an ex-gratia compensation of ₹5 lakh for the bereaved family. Meanwhile, the project contractor, Larsen & Toubro (L&T), has offered an additional ₹20 lakh as compensation.

The metro rail authorities have also constituted an enquiry committee to investigate the cause of the collapse and determine responsibility.

The incident has sparked widespread concern regarding the safety and oversight of urban infrastructure projects. It also comes amid national mourning over the recent Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad, which claimed 241 lives.

Soundararajan extended her condolences over the aviation tragedy as well, paying tribute to the victims, including students and doctors, and remembering former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani, who perished in the crash.

“We share our grief for the passengers, students, and doctors who lost their lives. I also pay homage to former Chief Minister Vijay Rupani, a dear friend. We pray for the recovery of the lone survivor,” she stated.

This dual tragedy has reignited debates over public safety, project accountability, and governance transparency, with both opposition leaders and citizens calling for urgent reforms in safety protocols and regulatory enforcement.