Hindustan Times 07.10.2010
Road caves in at Vakola due to leaking water pipelineA road in Vakola caved in on Tuesday because of leakage in the underground water pipeline. Around 11 am, a part of the Jawaharlal Nehru Road near the Vakola Bridge, that was covered by paverblocks caved in. Civic employees detected it before any mishap occurred. Civic officials said a small stretch of the road, measuring four feet, developed cracks and caved in. On excavation, civic employees found a cavity underneath.
AL Waghralkar, assistant municipal commissioner said, “A 6-inch underground water pipeline was leaking, that lead to a cavity underneath. Civic employees noticed it and took preventive measures to restore it.” The pipeline was repaired and the road was reopened on Wednesday.
The city has been witnessing several incidences cave-in incidents as underground utilities have corroded and developed cracks, leading cavity formations. In July, a large portion of Dr Narayan Hardikar Road, in Worli, caved in on Wednesday.
The road, which is perpendicular to the arterial Annie Besant road, gave way after a 90-year-old double barrel arch drain, running under the road, collapsed.
“These cave-ins can be prevented if old underground utilities are replaced. The civic body doesn’t even have an underground map of all the utilities,” said an official from the road department, on condition of anonymity because he is not authorised to speak to the media on this issue.
