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Winter rains expose city's crumbling underground infrastructure
28 Jan
Summary
- First winter rains revealed major flaws in underground services.
- Road subsidence occurred on Republic Day, disrupting traffic.
- An audit of water supply projects is called for to ensure safety.
The onset of winter rains has starkly highlighted significant vulnerabilities in the city's underground infrastructure and road restoration projects. A major road in the Model House market caved in on Republic Day, causing considerable traffic disruption. This incident followed a similar road subsidence reported near minister Sanjeev Arora's residence, which was repaired the same day.
Concerns have been raised about the adequacy of technical supervision for underground pipeline installations on busy roads. Activists point out that damage to water and sewer lines during drilling creates voids beneath road surfaces, increasing the risk of collapse. A car was recently stuck after a road cave-in on Tajpur Road, and another subsidence occurred at Model House on January 25, revealing water flowing beneath the road.
The municipal corporation has initiated repairs, with teams working diligently to restore the affected areas. Officials emphasize that corrective measures are underway and repairs will be completed soon. There is also a call for a comprehensive quality audit of ongoing projects, particularly the World Bank-assisted 24x7 water supply initiative, to ensure roads are properly reinstated after utility work for public safety.
