News: Cavity found on Dwarka Expressway days after pipeline work halted-03-11-2025
Gurgaon: Another road cavity was spotted near Sector 36A along Dwarka Expressway on Sunday, close to the site where GMDA had been laying a water pipeline.
The incident follows just days after NHAI halted GMDA's work, citing safety concerns and lack of mandatory approval following a case of soil subsidence during excavation.
NHAI, which maintains the expressway, has directed GMDA to carry out immediate repairs to prevent any risk to commuters.
The cavity, about a metre wide, was spotted during a routine inspection by NHAI's field team on the service road. Officials said that although the depression is minor at present, it could worsen if not repaired quickly due to heavy traffic and possible soil voids underneath.
"We have informed GMDA of the cavity and asked them to restore the damaged section on priority. The surface has settled because of subsoil movement at the location where the pipeline work was attempted. The area has been barricaded as a precaution," an NHAI official said, adding that the situation will be monitored until the repairs are completed.
A senior GMDA official confirmed receiving the information from NHAI.
"An agency has been deputed to coordinate with NHAI and rectification work is being carried on under the supervision of staff members of L&T," he said.
Last month, after NHAI stopped GMDA from laying the pipeline, the latter had clarified that the highways authority was informed about the project beforehand and that the work was essential to complete a 350m missing section of the city's main water supply line, which will connect to the Sector 72 boosting station.
During the construction of the expressway, NHAI had relocated an earlier water line that ran under the Central Peripheral Road (CPR). However, a 350m stretch near Sector 36A remained incomplete due to a land-related issue.
To close this gap, GMDA planned to divert the line through newly acquired land and connect it under the expressway.
The Rs 8 crore project, awarded in April this year, is intended to complete the supply link for sectors 58 to 80. After the suspension of work, GMDA asked NHAI to expedite approval for resumption.
NHAI officials had earlier warned that unapproved excavation could cause soil movement and affect the expressway's structural stability. "We asked GMDA to clarify how they plan to prevent further settlement and who would take responsibility for any damage," an NHAI official said, reiterating that such work can only proceed after technical clearance.
