Pune: Scare prevailed near Chinchwad Chowk on Tuesday night when a Metro pillar's iron structure suddenly tilted around 10.45pm, leaning towards a grade separator on old Pune-Mumbai highway.

While no injuries were reported, commuters demanded enhanced safety measures along Metro construction sites to prevent potential accidents.The officials said a detailed inquiry was initiated into the incident and action would be taken against the contractor based on the findings. "The structure remained within the barricaded area and didn't collapse on the road," an official said.According to the officials, Metro staff quickly removed the tilted structure using cranes. The affected pillar was part of the PCMC to Nigdi viaduct project being constructed along the old Pune-Mumbai highway, with a section near Chinchwad Chowk specifically aligned along a service road beside a grade separator.A Maha Metro official said, "The iron frame suddenly tilted to one side. There is an adequate gap between the location of the pillar and the grade separator. The entire site is barricaded. The investigation has been launched to ascertain what went wrong. Maha Metro is following necessary standards of safety and inspections. We have asked all concerned to beef up the safety measures at all the locations where pillar work is underway on the entire stretch."Regular travellers on the PCMC-Nigdi stretch on the old Pune-Mumbai highway said adequate safety measures should be in place, considering it was a busy stretch. Ashish Agarwal, a regular commuter, said, "Most locations are barricaded where works of pillar-foundation are underway, but there should not be lapses in safety measures. The incident took place late in the night when the traffic on the road was less."Sainath Jadhav, another commuter, said Maha Metro should ensure the deployment of adequate staff at the work sites along busy routes. "The areas near the junctions or service roads where Metro works are underway should have deployment of wardens as a part of safety measures," Jadhav added.PCMC to Nigdi-Bhakti Shakti Metro:Work started: July 2024Stations: 4Proposed piers: 151Total distance: 4.5kmPune: Scare prevailed near Chinchwad Chowk on Tuesday night when a Metro pillar's iron structure suddenly tilted around 10.45pm, leaning towards a grade separator on old Pune-Mumbai highway. While no injuries were reported, commuters demanded enhanced safety measures along Metro construction sites to prevent potential accidents.The officials said a detailed inquiry was initiated into the incident and action would be taken against the contractor based on the findings. "The structure remained within the barricaded area and didn't collapse on the road," an official said.According to the officials, Metro staff quickly removed the tilted structure using cranes. The affected pillar was part of the PCMC to Nigdi viaduct project being constructed along the old Pune-Mumbai highway, with a section near Chinchwad Chowk specifically aligned along a service road beside a grade separator.A Maha Metro official said, "The iron frame suddenly tilted to one side. There is an adequate gap between the location of the pillar and the grade separator. The entire site is barricaded. The investigation has been launched to ascertain what went wrong. Maha Metro is following necessary standards of safety and inspections. We have asked all concerned to beef up the safety measures at all the locations where pillar work is underway on the entire stretch."Regular travellers on the PCMC-Nigdi stretch on the old Pune-Mumbai highway said adequate safety measures should be in place, considering it was a busy stretch. Ashish Agarwal, a regular commuter, said, "Most locations are barricaded where works of pillar-foundation are underway, but there should not be lapses in safety measures. The incident took place late in the night when the traffic on the road was less."Sainath Jadhav, another commuter, said Maha Metro should ensure the deployment of adequate staff at the work sites along busy routes. "The areas near the junctions or service roads where Metro works are underway should have deployment of wardens as a part of safety measures," Jadhav added.PCMC to Nigdi-Bhakti Shakti Metro:Work started: July 2024Stations: 4Proposed piers: 151Total distance: 4.5km