Now, Vikas Marg caves in

A portion of Vikas Marg that connects east Delhi with central Delhi collapsed around 7 a.m. on Friday. According to the traffic police, a part of the road caved in between Nirman Vihar and Shastri Vihar and had been built over a water pipeline. HT reports.

A portion of Vikas Marg that connects east Delhi with central Delhi collapsed around 7 a.m. on Friday. According to the traffic police, a part of the road caved in between Nirman Vihar and Shastri Vihar and had been built over a water pipeline. The pipeline had been leaking for quite some time making the road weak.

HT Image

According to officials of Public Works Department, which maintains the road, heavy leakage washed away the loose soil protecting the road and made the road collapse on the side. "The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) had constructed the base of the road in January. We had done the black-topping in June to make it smooth. But, due to heavy leakage underneath, the support system of the road gave way and hence it collapsed," said a senior PWD official.

More than 50 feet of the road has developed cracks.

The Delhi Jal Board (DJB) has started plugging the leak and officials said the repair work will be finished by Saturday afternoon.

"The distribution line in that area completely collapsed leading to the cave-in. The repair work will be conducted during night and is expected to be completed by tomorrow morning," said R.K. Garg, DJB's Water Works member.

As a result of the cave-in, Delhi traffic police have cordoned off the entire road. They have advised people to take alternative routes to and from trans-Yamuna area. Until the repairs are carried out, traffic police said commuters should take NH-24, Geeta Colony flyover, ISBT and DND for travelling from and to trans-Yamuna.