The long-elusive sewage line through M.G. Road has been traced, and traffic on the road restored early Sunday morning.
The line was traced at 1.30 a.m., following which traffic towards Jos Junction was restored by 5 a.m. and towards Kacheripady by 2 a.m.
The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) began excavating the centre of M.G. Road near Doraiswamy Crossroad from Saturday night to trace the live sewage line. The aim was to ensure that the line was relocated if it fell within Kochi Metro’s piling area.
The line was finally traced about 3.50 metres to the east of the road median. DMRC sources said it would not have to be relocated since it was away from the median where piling would be carried out for the metro’s pillars.
Though DMRC had undertaken excavation along the eastern and western sides of Padma Junction earlier this month, the pipeline remained elusive.
The agency did not want to risk damaging the pipeline during piling work and hence carried out the excavation. “With the line being traced, the stretch from Padma Junction to Mullassery Canal Road Junction is safe for piling. A similar excavation will be done at a location between Mullassery Canal Road Junction and Jos Junction after the monsoon to trace the sewage pipeline located on the other side of the treatment plant,” DMRC sources said.
Once this is done, discussions will be held with the district administration, merchants and police on commencing piling activity. One-lane traffic will be allowed through the 200-metre stretch that is barricaded for piling.
