After a spate of road cave-ins, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has decided to check the deteriorating condition of the stormwater drains.
After a spate of road cave-ins, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has decided to check the deteriorating condition of the stormwater drains. Following 11 incidents of road cave-ins since 2008, it has come up with a unique way to repair age-old drains.
“After compilation of all the research work, we have conceptualised a way to repair the drains without digging any trenches,” said a senior civic official. A pit will be dug and work will be carried out through an underground passage. Only that portion of the road will be cordoned off and on the remaining part traffic can run smoothly without any diversions, he explained.
The workers will carry out de-silting work and reinforced concretising through the passage. While repairs are underway, the water in the drains will be diverted or pumped so that there is no hindrance in the flow.
The life span of these drains, made during the British rule, has expired. Of the 11 incidents, four major cave-ins took place this year.
A senior official from BMC’s roads department claimed there is a major likelihood of further cave-ins if the drains and leakages in underlying utilities running beneath the roads are not mended.
For the first phase of the work three spots have been identified where underground repairs will take place.
Drains in the stretch of Pathe Bapu Rao Marg, E Mosses Road and Britannia outfall will be improved. The BMC will shell out Rs230 crore for the work.
“Both arch drains and rectangular drains will be repaired. To prevent any water leakages, drains will also be grouted to fill voids and in case of double barrel drains joints will be sealed,” said the official.
An expert committee, which includes IIT-B professor KV Krishnarao and civic officials, in its report to municipal commissioner Swadheen Kshatriya, stated that leakage from the damaged underground stormwater drains runs on the sub surface of the roads and accentuates the chances of road cave-ins.
The work will start once the traffic department gives the nod to dig an underground pit on the road. The BMC claims that the work will be completed within 18 months.
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