The Greater Noida Industrial Development Authority (GNIDA) is set to launch a major corrective project to address the persistent and dangerous problem of water seepage and waterlogging in the basement of the Government Institute of Medical Sciences (GIMS) in Noida. With a budget of Rs 25 crore funded by the medical education department, the authority will hire a specialized agency to execute the crucial repairs.
A Long-Standing Structural Menace
The GIMS building, whose construction was completed in 2012 and which became operational in 2016, has been grappling with this critical issue since its inception. The level 2 basement has been particularly plagued, with the seepage worsening significantly during the monsoon seasons. A preliminary investigation by GNIDA pinpointed the root causes: the high groundwater level in the area and an apparent lack of proper soil treatment during the initial construction phase.
As a temporary and desperate measure to manage the situation, the institute has installed a network of 30 pumps around the building to continuously flush out the invading water. The director of GIMS, Dr (Brig) Rakesh Kumar Gupta, emphasized the urgency, stating, "We have deployed pumps to remove the water from the basement. This should be fixed at the earliest as there are chances of the building collapsing." His stark warning underscores the severe structural risk posed by the ongoing seepage.
IIT Roorkee's Damning Findings and the Path Forward
The gravity of the situation was officially validated back in 2019. A four-member expert team from IIT Roorkee conducted a study and identified fundamental design flaws as the primary cause of the seepage and cracks in the lower basement. The prestigious institute had strongly recommended immediate repairs to prevent further deterioration and ensure safety.
Acting on these recommendations and the escalating threat, GNIDA has now formally initiated the procurement process by issuing a Request for Proposal (RFP) for the seepage rectification work. This move marks the transition from temporary mitigation to a permanent, engineered solution. The project aims to not only stop the water ingress but also to rectify the underlying structural deficiencies highlighted years ago.
Conclusion: A Costly Lesson in Infrastructure
This Rs 25 crore intervention highlights a costly post-construction remedy for a problem that appears to have originated during the building's planning and execution stages. The case of GIMS serves as a significant reminder of the long-term consequences of overlooking geotechnical assessments and robust waterproofing in major public infrastructure projects, especially in regions with high water tables. The successful execution of this rectification project is now critical for the safety of the medical institute's staff, patients, and the structural integrity of the building itself.
