No digging in new plan for Peddar Rd sewer lines

After receiving complaints on the traffic chaos at Peddar Road,the city’s premier arterial road,from Chief Minister Ashok Chavan and other VIPs,the civic administration is gearing up to revive the repair plan.

“The trenchless technology is expensive than digging the road and was therefore avoided. However,problems at Peddar Road are unique,geographically and by way of people’s influence. But we are considering this plan,” a BMC official said. The new work will be carried out in night to avoid inconvenience to commuters.

Firstly,the BMC will geotechnically check the soil using Ground Penetration Radar to find the cavity and its type. It will then repair eight manholes. The bottom concrete has washed away at many places resulting in clogging. It will then lay new pipes by way of inversion lining or fusion welding. This involves pushing the pipes one after another without digging the road,pressure grouting in which pressure will be applied from the road surface to fill the void and finally cavity filling.

A BMC officials said that all these techniques were commonly used across the city. “But this is for the first time they will be used in combination,” he said. According to him,Peddar Road sewer line was laid 130 years ago on a rock base instead of soil and has one of the most unique geo-technical features.

“The concrete on which the sewer line was laid has been washed away over the years. Since there is no soil near the pipeline,water cannot flow resulting in accumulation,and thus weakening the base,” a senior official said.

The civic administration is now seeking opinion from experts who have worked on these five technologies and advise the BMC if the combination of these technologies is feasible. Although work is expected to start after April 30,officials said it will take time considering tendering process and administrative approval for the repair work.

However,traffic at some places may still need to be diverted and a meeting with the Traffic Police is arranged in the coming days for the permission of repairs.