Seepage And Design Flaws, PWD Issues Notice To Company Behind Pragati Maidan Tunnel (X image@ paurushsh)
Public Works Department of Delhi issued notice to Larsen and Tourbo and its officials. Larsen and Tourbo is the construction company responsible for Pragati Maidan tunnel. The notice said that there were “serious technical and design deficiencies” in the tunnel.
The PWD notice, which was issued on February 3 said, “the notable variation in the actual construction is likely to cause an irreparable and unprecedented impact on the underpasses and tunnels which are intended to be utilised by the public for years”.
The Delhi government demanded a deposit of Rs 500 crore from the company and demanded it to start repairing the work on tunnel.
The 1.3 km long tunnel and five underpasses were inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on June 19, 2022, as part of the Pragati Maidan Integrated Transit Corridor Project.
The tunnel has seen multiple closure due to the waterlogging during the Delhi flood last year. The notice said that the project, with passage of time, revealed “glaring infirmities that were not only technical in nature but were also design flaws”. The most glaring issue pointed by the notice was the “accumulation of water across various locations in the tunnel”.
Urban Planning Expert, Urban Pratap Singh explains that creating a resilient underground tunnel needs in-depth geotechnical examination to understand soil and rock conditions. Engineers select suitable support systems based on geopolitical findings by integrating methods like rock bolts and tunnel lining.
Singh said that, “the seepage issue in the Pragati Maidan tunnel highlights the lack of proper waterproofing measures during construction, leading to water leakage. Instances of water clogging in the 1.3 km drainage tunnel and the absence of saucer drains at crucial points underscore potential lapses in the implementation or design of drainage systems. Of particular concern are the cracks that have appeared in the tunnel within two years of its opening”.
The underpass was constructed in record time, with many conditions and checks to consider. Experts now say that a proper multi-team safety audit is required before possible overhaul. The continuous water seepage can pose catastrophic danger to any structure made of concrete and TMT bars, if it is a high-rise, flyover, or underpass.
The tunnel continues to experience seepage, despite remaining shut during the monsoon due to the incessant waterlogging. The notice issued also underlined that the fact that the entire design and execution of the project was under the control of Larsen and Tourbo (L&T), and no government agency had any role in it.
The L&T spokesperson stated that his company has filed a counter-claim of Rs 500 crore. He said, “PWD, Delhi, is an esteemed client and we value the long years of association we have enjoyed with them. However, L&T would like to state that a counter-claim of Rs 500 crore has been made by the company against PWD, Delhi”.
