The Indian Express         26.08.2013

BMC temporarily restores Marine Drive stretch

The Rs 94-crore project of the underground water tunnel from Malabar Hill reservoir to Cross Maidan in Churchgate was completed in January. However, some of the cross connections from the existing networks to the new pipelines are yet to be completed.

The hydraulic engineering department has already sent a letter to the traffic police seeking permission to undertake the work in October, said Ramesh Bambale, an engineer at the department. "Because it is an important stretch, there has been a delay on the part of traffic police in giving us permission to carry out the work. Old pipelines will be discarded and water supply will be shifted to the new tunnel. Cross connection is required on at least six of the pipelines. The Dhobi Talao outlet that burst on Saturday is one of them," said Bambale.

The 32-inch pipeline burst on Saturday caused flooding and traffic snarls on the road throughout Saturday. There was heavy congestion on the stretch from Wilson College to Charni Road station," said R Sayyed, assistant engineer (water department) of the D-Ward.

Additional police commissioner (traffic) Brijesh Singh said the two lanes that were cordoned off will be opened to traffic soon.

The underground pipeline that burst was repaired late Saturday evening. The water supply resumed from Sunday morning, officials from the hydraulic engineering department of BMC said.