PWD also served notices on Pradeep Kumar Parmar, the then chief engineer of flyover division and currently in Guwahati as a CPWD chief engineer, and executive engineer Iqbal Singh, asking why disciplinary action should not be taken against them.
Facing waterlogging and seepage issues since it opened in June 2022, the tunnel, which connects Mathura Road and India Gate C-Hexagon with Ring Road, has been shut several times for pumping out water and repairs. PWD has asked L&T to deposit a minimum token amount of Rs 500 crore and immediately initiate repairs and rectification as per the contract.
L&T, however, said it was making a “counterclaim” of Rs 500 crore against PWD. “PWD, Delhi, is an esteemed client and we value the long years of association with them. However, L&T would like to state that a counterclaim of Rs 500 crore has been made against PWD,” said a company spokesperson.
Major Design Flaws In Pragati Maidan Tunnel Remain Unresolved, Says PWD
PWD officials said major flaws in the design of the Pragati tunnel project had come to the fore, which have not been fixed. It said in a notice sent to construction firm L&T that “serious technical deficiencies” led to consequent damage and losses to the govt in managing and operating the project. It posed a “potential threat” to the life of commuters using the tunnel and underpasses in its current state.
Built at a cost of Rs 777 crore, the project was funded by the Centre while Delhi PWD was to execute the project. It, in turn, engaged L&T as an EPC (engineering, procurement and construction) contractor. Preparation of the design, execution and maintenance, and repair work were the sole responsibility of L&T.
“The project-related issues mentioned in the present notice have a far-reaching impact not only on public safety but also on the future development and management of vehicular/traffic movement in and around New Delhi and other connecting roads,” said the notice.
Inauguration of the project by PM Narendra Modi lent a “greater prestige” to it, said PWD, and it was hailed as being a one of its kind, providing seamless connectivity and facilitating commute around important landmarks, including the international convention centre at Pragati Maidan, Supreme Court, Delhi High Court and India Gate.
“To the utter dismay of all concerned…with the passage of time, it revealed glaring infirmities, which were not only technical in nature but were also design flaws,” the notice read.
“The most glaring as well as alarming issue was the accumulation of water across various locations in the tunnel. This issue, especially during the monsoon season, rendered the entire project non-operational for the general public and ultimately ended up causing far more blockages and congestion along the arterial roads of the entire New Delhi area which defeated the very purpose of this ambitious project,” it added.
While the construction work started in November 2017, it took L&T four years and seven months to make the underpasses and main tunnel ready for the public.
Officials said L&T had agreed to a specific code of practice for design and construction with the project to have a life of 100 years, but the flaws cannot be resolved without a major revamp and overhaul of the entire project. “We had never envisaged a situation where defects of such magnitude would surface within a few days of operation and these would have such deleterious effects on the entire project,” said an official.
They added that there were multiple site inspections, and despite assurances, L&T engineers failed to act upon the proposed solutions.
Officials pointed out that high-level inspections, led by lieutenant governor V K Saxena, were carried out in Aug and Sep 2022 and more recently on Jan 17 this year, followed by detailed technical reports and action plans for immediate redressal of issues.
“The records would reveal that not only has your company failed to take any action towards resolving the issues at hand, but has even failed to provide contractually agreed maintenance services at the project site…. It has become clear that the company is purposely avoiding rectifying the defects and issues…(and is) liable for dereliction of contractual obligations as well as public duties,” the notice read
