After days of relentless rainfall, Mohali is seeing major roads caving in and forming giant craters that have turned into death traps for commuters. The situation has not only disrupted traffic but also exposed the city’s fragile infrastructure and administrative lapses.
According to officials, the sinking of roads is mainly due to soil erosion and damaged underground sewer pipelines. While the administration has tried to take temporary measures such as filling the cavities with gravel and installing barricades, the risk of accidents remains high.
The most alarming site has been reported on Airport Road in Sector 67, in front of a private mall. Here, the ground suddenly gave way, leaving a gaping crater. The spot was hastily filled with gravel to restore partial movement, but commuters are still wary of driving through it.
Similarly, two deep depressions have appeared near the traffic lights at Sectors 79–80, creating bottlenecks and posing a constant danger to two-wheeler riders. In Phase 8 on Kumbhra Road, an old dart sewer line collapsed, leading to a massive 50-foot-long and nearly 10-foot-deep sinkhole, which swallowed half the road. Authorities say repairs could take weeks.
Another large cavity has developed on the stretch connecting Phase 7 to Sector 71, forcing authorities to block one side of the road. Meanwhile, the road from 3B-2 to Sector 71 has also caved in, prompting a complete ban on vehicular movement as a safety measure.
SAD leader Paramjit Singh Kahlon has voiced concerns over the city’s crumbling roads, blaming the problem on unplanned construction, poor drainage systems, and lack of timely maintenance. With monsoon showers continuing, fears are high that more stretches could sink, leading to accidents and traffic chaos.
Ravi Kumar, a daily commuter, said, “every time it rains, Mohali’s roads either break down or sink. It feels like the administration is only waiting for tragedies to happen before they act”.
Deputy Mayor’s warning to GMADA
The crisis has also sparked political heat. Mohali’s Deputy Mayor Kuljit Singh Bedi issued a sharp warning to the GMADA, demanding urgent action to stop the subsidence near the new bus stand, located along the Chandigarh–Kharar National Highway, close to Dara Studio and Verka Chowk.
This problem has been pending for a long time, and due to GMADA’s negligence, the risk intensifies with every rainfall,” he said.
The Deputy Mayor further warned that if the road sinks deeper “any loss of life or property will be irreparable. The government and GMADA must fix this project immediately, or the entire responsibility will lie with GMADA.”
N S Kalsa, who retired as an executive engineer from PUDA, said the problem highlights a larger issue of urban planning in Mohali. “Rapid construction, combined with ageing sewage systems and inadequate stormwater drains, has left the city vulnerable. Without long-term structural repairs, temporary gravel fillings and barricades may only delay inevitable disasters.
For now, the administration is racing against time to prevent further cave-ins. But with rain clouds still looming, Mohali’s roads remain on the edge turning daily travel into a high-risk affair,” Kalsa said.
‘A complete overhauling of the outdated dart system need of the hour’
Mohali Mayor Amarjit Singh Jeeti Sidhu, addressing the issue, said that the old sewer pipeline is outdated. He said the traditional “dart system” has weakened over time and is now collapsing at several spots.
“Because the system is very old, the ground is caving in at multiple locations. As soon as the weather clears up a bit, we will immediately start emergency repair work. Later, once full funds are released by the government, the entire sewerage system will be replaced. Only then will we be able to provide a permanent solution. All craters that have formed on the roads will also be repaired,” the Mayor said.
Similarly, two deep depressions have appeared near the traffic lights at Sectors 79–80, creating bottlenecks and posing a constant danger to two-wheeler riders. (Express Photo) 
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