The fast progress of construction has been possible only because of E. Sreedharan.'

The concrete slabs that collapsed were part of an elevated section of a new Metro route between the Central Secretariat and Badarpur. The accident took place around 5 a.m. Sunday at the construction site at Zamrudpur near Kailash Colony in south Delhi.

The accident killed six people and left 15 injured.

The debris are likely to be cleared by Monday evening, DMRC officials said.

The traffic police officials diverted commuters from the road Monday morning, and there were long delays for people trying to reach Nehru Place, the capital's second largest business district. The Metro route was on one of the two main roads leading to the area.

The Central Secretariat-Badarpur route of Delhi Metro is one of the principal routes being readied as part of the preparations for the October 2010 Commonwealth Games here.