The GHMC has alerted the Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority (HMDA) and the Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply & Sewerage Board (HMWSSB) to check diligently the ongoing underground sewerage tunnelling work at the Basheerbagh crossroads in view of the flyover adjacent to it.
In a communication to HMDA Commissioner N.K. Prasad and HMWSSB MD Adar Singh, the municipal corporation has pointed out that the tunnel work going on for the last few months in the area and at a depth of more than six metres is very close to the foundations of the Basheerbagh flyover built nearly a decade ago.
As such it is necessary to stringently verify the foundation levels of the flyover if only to ensure that the overhead carriageway does in no way be affected due to the ongoing trenchless technology method being used by the water board contractor to lay the massive sewer line pipes.
The flyover was built by the erstwhile Hyderabad Urban Development Authority (HUDA) which got transformed into HMDA after the formation of GHMC.
The civic body rather belatedly has suggested crosschecking the drawings of the flyover available with the HMDA as a precautionary measure although the tunnel work had commenced quite some time ago.
The tunnelling technology being adopted by the HMWSSB enables laying of the pipelines to at least five kilometre distance underground without the need to dig the overhead road all through thereby also ensuring minimal traffic disruption.
The municipal corporation has every reason to be doubly cautious considering the horrifying experience it had when eight pre-cast segments of the Punjagutta flyover had crashed onto the road beneath during construction killing two persons.
A probe panel led by the Chief Engineer of Roads & Buildings then had pointed out that temporary supporting structure put by the contractor, Gammon India, could not withstand the heavy downpour and collapsed, leading to the fall of eight segments. It also called for severe disciplinary action against water board officials digging of trenches to lay a pipeline in the area.
The panel had suggested that the pipeline trenches or any other trenches dug in the city should be properly refilled and restored to original conditions.
Action was also taken against the then municipal employees supervising the project.
