A massive controversy has erupted over the six-lane, multi-crore Pragati Maidan Tunnel project, deemed a "potential threat to the lives of passengers" due to issues such as water seepage, poor drainage, and extensive cracks. Negligence in maintenance has exacerbated these problems, leading to significant structural damage necessitating a complete overhaul.
On the other hand, the Public Works Department (PWD) and Larsen & Toubro (L&T), which executed the projects, are engaged in a blame game and have issued notices to each other for the flaws. The Delhi Government's agency, PWD, has also asked the construction major L&T, which executed the project, to deposit Rs 500 crore for the flaws. In response, L&T said it has made a counterclaim of Rs 500 crore. According to the PWD, the tunnel is facing myriad issues, and 12 have been recognised. These include leakage, significant cracks in concrete, water accumulation, inadequate drainage, inconsistent kerbstones, missing saucer drains, and unexplained groundwater seepage.
Since its inauguration by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on June 19, 2022, the 1.3-kilometre-long tunnel of the Pragati Maidan Integrated Transit Corridor Project has experienced repeated closures due to waterlogging. These closures have exposed significant flaws within the project, as highlighted in recent notices, prompting concerns about its resilience and long-term viability.
In 2023, the tunnel faced multiple closures due to waterlogging, underscoring the urgent need for a comprehensive multi-team safety audit before any potential overhaul. Experts warn that continuous water seepage poses a catastrophic danger to structures constructed of concrete and TMT bars, whether they are high-rises, flyovers, or underpasses.
The PWD's notice said that rectifying design flaws and quality-related concerns requires a substantial overhaul of the entire project, including deficiencies in the transit corridor running along Mathura Road, Bhairon Marg, Mahatma Gandhi Marg, and the underground tunnel connecting Mathura Road to Mahatma Gandhi Marg beneath Pragati Maidan.
The PWD also highlighted that L&T failed to complete the tunnel construction on time. The tender for the project was floated in 2017 and the initial deadline for the launch of the tunnel was set for 2019. However, the tunnel was launched in June 2022. The PWD claims that the major damage to the tunnel resulted from defects in the design of Underpass number 5 near Bhairon Marg.
The notice requires L&T to respond by February 18, explaining why action should not be taken against the company for financial and reputational losses. The PWD held L&T accountable under civil and criminal laws for neglecting its responsibility to repair and maintain the construction, which was supposed to have a design life of 100 years or more.
Aimed to ease connectivity between central Delhi with eastern parts of the city and satellite towns of Noida and Ghaziabad, the tunnel is 1.3 km long and has five underpasses linking it to the Integrated Transit Corridor Project.
In 2023, the tunnel was closed on multiple occasions due to waterlogging during the monsoon season, said another PWD official.
