Ega stretch caves in after CMRL workers drill into pipe

Traffic came to a grinding halt at around 10.45 am on Poonamallee High Road near Ega theatre in Kilpauk as workers on the Metro Rail Project accidentally smashed a Metro water pipe while digging. Water gushed out and flowed onto the road prompting workers to red flag approaching vehicles for an hour. Later, the road caved in and traffic was diverted from 3 pm onward. 

Sources said that following the floods in December last year, Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) took up work in some places. While work resumed near Ega theatre in Kilpauk, during a drilling operation in the centre of the road, a Metro pipe was pierced leading to water being leaking and inundating the area. 

“When DTNext contacted the Metro Water EE, GM Ramalingam, he maintained that such incidents do occur unknowingly. “Upon receiving information, we rushed to the place and stopped the flow of water through the pipe. We cannot blame workers, as they did not do it intentionally. We will request the CMRL to be cautious when working,” he said, adding that they were attending to the issue and that it would be cleared by the evening. 

A CMRL staffer on condition of anonymity said they had communicated with the Pipeline Engineer in that area and water leakage was under control. 

Police officials said they were compelled to divert vehicles, as there was a big pit. A traffic police officer said that vehicles approaching from Chennai Mofussil Bus Terminus (CMBT) was diverted through Taylors Road and Flowers Road. Assistant Commissioner (Traffic) S Nataraj told DTNext, “In the morning, there was a pipe leakage, but the road caved in at the middle. Vehicles would be allowed on the road after it is cleared."