Bhopal: This week, the second tunnel-boring machine at the Orange Line station began tunnelling towards Pul Bogda, even as concerns persist that incomplete surface work and unresolved drainage issues about 30 metres above ground could worsen waterlogging on Hamidia Road, one of the city’s key commercial stretches.
Previous Flooding and Mitigation Measures
Last year, after heavy rain flooded Hamidia Road, the Bhopal Municipal Corporation (BMC) installed two 3-inch pumps and laid 20 underground pipes to divert runoff to a drain about 100 metres away. Despite these measures, the intersection, a key route to Platform Six, remained inundated during subsequent rains, with water stagnating even a day after rainfall stopped.
Current Situation and Resident Concerns
Residents say even moderate rain now takes two to three hours to drain, while knee-deep water at Alpana intersection continues to make the area flood-prone. Engineers warn that unfinished drainage diversion and unsettled soil above tunnelling zones could trigger waterlogging near railway tracks during heavy monsoon spells.
Agency Responsibilities and Responses
MPMRCL officials said surface flooding is not their responsibility, while BMC and PWD must address it. BMC said it is ready with pumps; PWD did not respond.
Tunnelling Progress
The first TBM has crossed 94.5 metres, while the second has reached around 20 metres.
Additional Information
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