Gurgaon: Two days after a massive sinkhole appeared on the Sohna highway near SD Adarsh Public School, repair work is yet to begin, even as the damaged portion has expanded further, raising safety concerns among commuters. The sinkhole, initially estimated to be around 10 feet wide, has now widened to nearly 20 feet. The bituminous layer of the road has continued to cave in and settle into the crater, suggesting further weakening beneath the carriageway.
Growing Danger
Hairline cracks also appeared on the main carriageway near the affected stretch, while adjoining sections of the service road showed signs of distress, raising fears of more cave-ins. The stretch remains barricaded by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), with traffic being regulated around the damaged area.
Repair Delays Explained
NHAI officials said repair work cannot begin immediately as diversion and plugging of the sewer line are necessary before excavation and restoration can be taken up. “Plugging of the sewer line is necessary before starting the repair work. We are coordinating with GMDA for the diversion of sewage, as it is required to reduce the flow to carry out the work. Meanwhile, we are engaging the agency, which will mobilise its manpower and machinery by Saturday. Dewatering of the site will then be carried out, following which restoration work will start,” an official said.
The official added that a 1,800mm sewer line passing beneath the main carriageway has become highly vulnerable. “The sewer line is old, and the section between chambers gets damaged due to pressure. There is also a bend in the pipeline. Whenever it bursts, the surrounding area settles,” the official said.
Restoration Timeline
Explaining the proposed restoration process, the official said, “Sheet piling will be done first, after which shuttering and concreting will be carried out over the pipeline. The cavity will then be filled with soil before restoration of the road surface. The entire process is likely to take at least two to three weeks.”
When asked about cracks on the main carriageway, the official said they were linked to an earlier cave-in. “The cracks appeared after the previous settlement incident. We repaired the road, and there was no structural issue. The cracks on the service road are unrelated to this cave-in but will also be fixed,” the official added, noting that teams are continuously monitoring the situation.
Recurring Problem
This is the sixth time since 2023 that sinkholes have been witnessed along the same stretch, with repeated cave-ins linked to the deteriorating underground master sewer line running beneath the highway. The recurring collapses are linked to a damaged 1,800mm master sewer line beneath the road. Although the sewer network was officially handed over to the Gurugram Metropolitan Development Authority (GMDA) in 2022 after completion of the highway project, the master pipeline has never undergone full rehabilitation, and only the strengthening of manholes was carried out during the execution of the highway project.
Last year, it was decided that NHAI would undertake rehabilitation of the sewer line using cured-in-place pipe (CIPP) technology at an estimated cost of Rs 68 crore. The official said the proposal is likely to receive approval within the next 15 days.
