Gurgaon: Repairs on two arterial stretches – a flyover at IFFCO Chowk and Sohna highway – have been pending for months despite assurances that commuters won’t have to wait for traffic to go back to normal.
A portion of a one-way flyover that runs parallel to Delhi-Gurgaon Expressway at IFFCO Chowk developed cracks in November. The cracks on the elevated section were almost 30 metres in length.Less than a month later, a section of the Sohna highway, inaugurated last year, caved in near SD Adarsh Vidyalaya. Authorities found out that the wall of a sewer chamber underneath the road had collapsed, creating an 18-foot sinkhole.
The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), which maintains both the stretches, had barricaded two lanes of the flyover and deployed marshals to prevent motorists from entering the portion.
Commuters say it’s been more than two months that they’ve had to navigate the flyover.
“I have to be extra careful while taking this flyover, especially during these days when there is dense fog and visibility is poor. Authorities have barricaded the damaged portion but it is still risky. I hope they complete the repairs soon, so traffic can move smoothly,” said Sudhanshu Mittal, a resident of South City-1 who takes this flyover daily.
Initially, NHAI had filled the cracks with bitumen as a stop-gap arrangement, but an expert committee called in to inspect the site recommended redesigning the flyover’s expansion joints. The authority maintains that there is no issue with the flyover’s stability, but they are still carrying out the repairs, which will be completed by the end of February.
“The experts committee was formed to assess the problem, and based on their suggestion, remedial measures are being taken to ensure proper repairs. There has been no delay and fabrication of expansion joints is underway. We will lay the longitudinal joint and we are hoping to complete the work by February end,” said Mohammad Safi, NHAI regional officer.
For Sohna highway, NHAI officials say that GMDA, which manages the sewer network, has taken its time in repairing the damaged chamber. GMDA has completed repair work, and it is now carrying out tests to ensure there are no leaks in the future. Highways authority officials say they will start work to repair the sinkhole and complete it in the next 4-5 days.
“There has been no delay from our side as we were waiting for GMDA to finish with their repair work of the sewer chamber. A leakage test will be conducted by GMDA on Thursday night, and if everything goes as planned, we will start restoration work and it will be completed within 4-5 days,” said Yogesh Tilak, project director of Rewari project implement unit, NHAI.
Asked about progress, GMDA officials said the sewer repair work was more intricate than they had anticipated.
The 1,800mm master sewer line starting from Shankar Chowk passes via Rajiv Chowk and Subhash Chowk before crossing the Sohna highway near Sector 47. It ends at Behrampur plant and is connected to two other pipelines that were linked to the damaged sewer chamber.
“Flow in the sewer lines could not be stopped. Moreover, it is hazardous to carry out repair work of a sewer network that is around 20 feet below ground surface. Had it been strengthened before construction of the highway, this would not have happened. Still, we have carried out the repair work and laid down an RCC pipeline. Even then, the only lasting solution will be strengthening the sewer line with CIPP (cured-in-place pipe) technology,” a GMDA official said.
A portion of a one-way flyover that runs parallel to Delhi-Gurgaon Expressway at IFFCO Chowk developed cracks in November. The cracks on the elevated section were almost 30 metres in length.Less than a month later, a section of the Sohna highway, inaugurated last year, caved in near SD Adarsh Vidyalaya. Authorities found out that the wall of a sewer chamber underneath the road had collapsed, creating an 18-foot sinkhole.
The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), which maintains both the stretches, had barricaded two lanes of the flyover and deployed marshals to prevent motorists from entering the portion.
Commuters say it’s been more than two months that they’ve had to navigate the flyover.
“I have to be extra careful while taking this flyover, especially during these days when there is dense fog and visibility is poor. Authorities have barricaded the damaged portion but it is still risky. I hope they complete the repairs soon, so traffic can move smoothly,” said Sudhanshu Mittal, a resident of South City-1 who takes this flyover daily.
Initially, NHAI had filled the cracks with bitumen as a stop-gap arrangement, but an expert committee called in to inspect the site recommended redesigning the flyover’s expansion joints. The authority maintains that there is no issue with the flyover’s stability, but they are still carrying out the repairs, which will be completed by the end of February.
“The experts committee was formed to assess the problem, and based on their suggestion, remedial measures are being taken to ensure proper repairs. There has been no delay and fabrication of expansion joints is underway. We will lay the longitudinal joint and we are hoping to complete the work by February end,” said Mohammad Safi, NHAI regional officer.
For Sohna highway, NHAI officials say that GMDA, which manages the sewer network, has taken its time in repairing the damaged chamber. GMDA has completed repair work, and it is now carrying out tests to ensure there are no leaks in the future. Highways authority officials say they will start work to repair the sinkhole and complete it in the next 4-5 days.
“There has been no delay from our side as we were waiting for GMDA to finish with their repair work of the sewer chamber. A leakage test will be conducted by GMDA on Thursday night, and if everything goes as planned, we will start restoration work and it will be completed within 4-5 days,” said Yogesh Tilak, project director of Rewari project implement unit, NHAI.
Asked about progress, GMDA officials said the sewer repair work was more intricate than they had anticipated.
The 1,800mm master sewer line starting from Shankar Chowk passes via Rajiv Chowk and Subhash Chowk before crossing the Sohna highway near Sector 47. It ends at Behrampur plant and is connected to two other pipelines that were linked to the damaged sewer chamber.
“Flow in the sewer lines could not be stopped. Moreover, it is hazardous to carry out repair work of a sewer network that is around 20 feet below ground surface. Had it been strengthened before construction of the highway, this would not have happened. Still, we have carried out the repair work and laid down an RCC pipeline. Even then, the only lasting solution will be strengthening the sewer line with CIPP (cured-in-place pipe) technology,” a GMDA official said.