Although the Public Works Department (PWD) declared that the persistent problems with water leakage and seepage in the Pragati Maidan Tunnel had been resolved, a recent visit to the site revealed that water was still leaking and dripping at multiple points.
While some repair work has been carried out, leakage was still evident in certain sections of the tunnel leading towards the Supreme Court from Noida. Waterlogging was particularly noticeable in the parking area, which also connects to the Bhairon Marg underpass, which is currently closed to the public.
On the Noida side of the tunnel, however, no visible water leakage was observed. The barricades placed around the seepage-prone areas were removed a few days ago.
PWD officials acknowledged that repair work has been ongoing for over a month and that improvements have been made to address the water leakage issue. Grouting and drain cleaning have been carried out, with minor leakages expected to be fixed shortly.
Besides the seepage issue, the tunnel’s surface was found to be bumpy in several places, with cracks and broken surfaces visible in different sections, leading to sudden jolts for commuters, especially those riding bikes.
The Pragati Maidan Tunnel, touted as Delhi’s widest underground tunnel, was built as part of the Pragati Maidan Integrated Corridor Redevelopment Project and inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2022. However, water leakage and seepage issues emerged within months, forcing multiple tunnel closures for repairs, including a month-long closure due to heavy waterlogging last year.
In February, the PWD issued a notice to L&T, the company that executed the project, flagging design deficiencies and potential safety hazards, and demanded a deposit of Rs 500 crore. An expert committee has also been formed to assess the methodology for resolving the water leakage issues within the tunnel.
