Pune Metro authorities have declared a strict ‘No Objection Certificate (NOC), No-Work’ policy following a recent incident where unauthorized borewell drilling caused a significant breach in an underground metro tunnel. The directive emphasizes the mandatory requirement of prior permission from the metro rail authority for any construction or excavation work near metro routes, with warnings of legal action and financial recovery for damages.
Mandatory NOC for Construction Near Metro Routes
Pune Metro has issued a stern warning of legal action and financial recovery against individuals or entities found to be damaging its infrastructure. This comes in the wake of an incident in Pune’s Shukrawar Peth area, where unauthorized borewell drilling led to a high-risk breach in an underground metro tunnel. The authorities have made it unequivocally clear that obtaining a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the Pune Metro authority is now a prerequisite for undertaking any construction, excavation, boring, or similar activities in proximity to metro routes, whether underground or elevated. According to Pune Metro spokesperson Chandrashekhar Tambekar, any development activity within a 20-meter radius of an elevated or underground metro line necessitates prior permission from the metro authority.
The directive, communicated via platforms like X (formerly Twitter), underscores that any work performed without the requisite permission, or any resulting damage to metro property, will invite stringent legal consequences as per existing rules. This policy aims to prevent a recurrence of incidents that could jeopardize the safety and integrity of the metro’s underground infrastructure.
Tunnel Breach Details and Investigation
The incident that prompted these stringent measures occurred on March 14, when unauthorized borewell drilling at a residential property in Shukrawar Peth, Pune, allegedly created a six-inch hole in an underground metro tunnel on the Shivajinagar-Swargate stretch. The breach, located near house number 415 on Shivaji Road, opposite the Khadak Police Station, led to water seepage into the tunnel. Metro officials were alerted when tunnel operator Bhushan Pradeep Baringe reported unusual water leakage between Swargate and Mandai stations to the operations control room. A subsequent internal inspection initially failed to pinpoint the source, but a surface investigation revealed that drilling had occurred at a site where an old wada structure had been demolished.
Authorities suspect the borewell punctured the tunnel, which is constructed with cement concrete rings for structural stability and lies between 60 to 100 feet below ground level. Despite repeated advisories warning against excavation and borewell work in metro-sensitive zones, the property owner reportedly proceeded with the drilling without seeking necessary clearances or verifying underground utilities. The damage to the tunnel has been estimated at approximately ₹2.5 lakh, and the leakage was reportedly contained by March 17.
Information was available with The Chenab Times that an FIR has been filed by Santanu Gauratra, joint general manager (civil) of the Pune Metro project, against the property owner and the borewell contractor. They have been booked under relevant sections of the law pertaining to rash or negligent acts endangering human life and causing mischief. The owner and contractor admitted to drilling to a depth of about 60 feet without mandatory permissions, which is believed to have damaged the tunnel lining.
Broader Implications and New Regulations
This incident, which mirrors a similar event in Mumbai involving unauthorized borewell drilling damaging a metro tunnel, has raised significant safety concerns regarding construction activities above underground transit systems. In response, the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) is in the process of drafting comprehensive regulations to govern construction activities over metro tunnels, particularly in densely built areas like the Old Wada localities. These proposed guidelines will impose stricter controls on redevelopment and new construction projects, requiring detailed technical scrutiny and separate permissions for activities such as borewell drilling from groundwater authorities.
Municipal Commissioner Naval Kishore Ram stated that the new rules aim to mitigate structural risks arising from construction in congested areas and ensure the long-term safety of the metro infrastructure. The civic body is considering making it mandatory for developers to obtain approvals from metro authorities and submit structural safety assessments. This proactive measure seeks to balance urban development needs with the imperative of protecting critical public infrastructure, preventing future safety hazards and potential disruptions to metro services.
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The Chenab Times News Desk
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