Rs.31.68 Lakh Copper Cable Theft at Surat Metro Depot Sparks Security Concerns

Surat | Gujarat — A major theft at the under-construction metro rail project in Surat has raised serious concerns about security at key infrastructure sites after copper cables worth more than ₹31 lakh were stolen from the Bhesan Metro Depot.

The theft, which reportedly took place inside the depot compound under the jurisdiction of Pal Police Station, has sent shockwaves through the metro project administration and police authorities. Smugglers allegedly cut and removed large quantities of copper cable from drums stored in an open shed inside the metro depot.

Metro Depot Store Targeted

The complaint regarding the theft was lodged by Sagar Sandeep Kumar Shah, a quality engineer associated with the metro project and a resident of Koba Highway in Gandhinagar.

According to Shah, around 15 drums of copper cables meant for metro construction work were stored inside the depot compound. Taking advantage of weak security arrangements and the open shed storage facility, the smugglers managed to carry out the theft without immediate detection.

“This was a huge quantity of material meant for an important public infrastructure project. Such incidents raise serious questions about safety measures at project sites,” a police official said.

Theft Took Place During Festival Period

Police believe the theft occurred between 7 pm on February 28 and 8 pm on March 2, a period when activity at the depot was relatively low due to the Holi–Dhuleti festival holidays.

Investigators suspect the criminals carefully planned the theft and used the holiday period to execute the operation without attracting attention.

Security Guard’s Alert Exposes Theft

The incident came to light when a security guard noticed something unusual in the storage area and alerted the project staff.

On March 2 at around 6:30 pm, Shah received a call from a colleague informing him that two cable drums appeared to be empty. Officials immediately rushed to the site and began inspecting the store.

During the inspection, it was discovered that cables had been completely removed from five drums, while two additional drums had partially cut cables.

In total, cables were stolen from 7 out of the 15 drums kept in the storage facility.

Theft Worth ₹31.68 Lakh

The value of the stolen copper cables has been estimated at ₹31,68,692, making it one of the biggest theft incidents linked to the metro project so far.

Police have registered a case under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and launched a detailed investigation.

Police Examining CCTV and Records

The probe is currently being led by M. V. Parmar, who said investigators are reviewing CCTV footage from the depot compound, checking entry–exit registers and questioning security staff and employees who were on duty during the period.

Police suspect that a vehicle may have been used to transport the heavy copper cables from the depot.

“Such a large quantity of material cannot be moved without planning. We are analysing CCTV footage and tracking possible vehicle movements near the depot,” a police officer said.