MUMBAI: A Central Railway inquiry into the June 24 ground cave-in between Turbhe and Kopar Khairane stations on the Trans Harbour line has found that the soil beneath the tracks gave way after the Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC) used a construction method different from the one approved by the Railways for laying an underground pipeline.According to the probe, MIDC had been permitted to carry out the work using the micro-tunnelling method, which minimises disturbance to the ground beneath railway tracks. However, the agency allegedly adopted the pipe-pushing method instead, weakening the soil supporting the tracks and resulting in the cave-in.The incident disrupted suburban train services on the busy Trans Harbour corridor for nearly two-and-a-half hours as railway authorities suspended operations on the affected stretch to carry out emergency restoration work and ensure passenger safety.Railway officials said the permission had required the work to be completed within a year and in accordance with prescribed safety conditions. Following the inquiry, Central Railway has initiated penalty proceedings against MIDC for violating the approved conditions of the work.Officials said nearly 60% of the underground pipeline project has been completed. MIDC has been granted an additional three months to finish the remaining work, with completion expected by January 2026.The Railways has also decided to tighten monitoring of infrastructure works near operational tracks to ensure approved construction methods are followed and to reduce the risk of similar incidents affecting train operations in future.
