A major company involved in the construction of the Guangzhou metro has been blacklisted and banned from bidding for any new projects in Guangdong's provincial capital for six months after one of its projects was found to be substandard.

The concrete strength of a tunnel in the northern extension of subway Line 3, which was constructed by Beijing Chang Cheng Bilfinger Berger Construction Engineering Co Ltd (BCBB), failed quality tests, the Guangzhou-based New Express Daily reported.

Yuan E, director of the city's construction projects quality supervision bureau, confirmed the report on Tuesday, saying BCBB had deliberately hidden a quality report on the tunnel's concrete strength.

The case came to light after Zhong Jizhang, an engineer at the Guangzhou Huijian Center of Engineering Quality and Safety Monitoring, made the cover-up public via the Internet in mid September, triggering worries about the safety of the city's metro projects.

Yuan said his bureau swung into action after the information was posted online and issued documents ordering the metro company to revaluate the concrete strength of the tunnel in question.

"The case is now under official investigation. Besides the existing punishments, the company (BCBB) may also be fined depending on the result of the probe," he was quoted as saying in the New Express Daily.

Established in 1995, BCBB is a Sino-German equity joint venture company. Its two parent companies are the Germany-based Bilfinger Berger AG and Beijing Construction Engineering Group Co Ltd.

According to the New Express Daily, BCBB has admitted to the fraud.

However, Guangzhou Metro Co Ltd on Tuesday insisted the city's subway project is safe.

"There are no safety issues with the metro projects," said Nong Xingzhong, vice-president of Guangzhou Metro Design and Research Institute, which is responsible for the design of the metro projects.

Guangzhou's construction commission said the government quality check on the extension project of subway Line 3 has not started yet, and there is no need for residents to worry about the structural safety of the city's metro.

But the public is wary.

Guan Zhida, a white-collar worker in Guangzhou, said the case has brought to light some serious concerns regarding public safety.

"Safety is always the most important issue in construction projects, particularly when it comes to subways, which millions of people use every day," he said.

Guan said he hopes the government takes the issue seriously and inspects all metro projects in the city to ensure people are safe.

(China Daily October 14, 2010)