Company blacklisted over unsafe tunnel

GUANGZHOU - 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.