Pipeline Burst Triggers 6-Metre Cave-In on GNT Road at Puzhal
A major portion of the Grand Northern Trunk (GNT) Road at Puzhal caved in around 2 am on Monday following a burst in a 35-year-old drinking water pipeline. The collapse created a crater measuring six metres in length, three metres in width, and two metres in depth, triggering severe traffic congestion along the busy corridor during peak hours.
The damaged conduit, measuring 1,200 mm in diameter, carries water from the 300 MLD Puzhal water treatment plant to northern parts of Chennai. Because repair work is expected to take two days, Metro Water announced that drinking water supply will remain suspended until 10 pm on Wednesday across Tondiarpet and parts of Manali, Madhavaram, and Thiru-Vi-Ka Nagar.
Metro Water personnel barricaded the damaged stretch on GNT Road, which forms part of the Kolkata National Highway, and began restoration work shortly after the incident was reported. An official noted that the pipeline was originally installed around 35 years ago when the highway had only two lanes. The roadway has since been expanded to four lanes along with additional service lanes, significantly increasing the weight and traffic load bearing down on the ageing infrastructure.
While a work order has already been issued to replace the pipeline as part of the Ring Main System (RMS) project, the upgrade is scheduled to take two years to complete. Officials said this was the first cave-in caused by this particular line in five years. Technical teams plan to assess the total extent of the damage before replacing the ruptured section with a new pipe segment of identical length.
According to a statement from Metro Water, all localities across the Tondiarpet zone will face water disruptions. In Thiru-Vi-Ka Nagar, cuts will affect Kannika Puram in Ward 72 and areas opposite Perambur Railway Station in Ward 71. In Madhavaram zone, disruptions cover Wards 25, 26, 28, 29, and parts of Ward 30, encompassing Madhavaram, Ponniammanmedu, and Vinayakapuram, as well as Bank Colony in Ward 27 and sections of Kathirvedu in Ward 31. In Manali zone, affected localities in Ward 17 include North Perumbakkam, Theeyambakkam, Kosapur, Chettimedu, Ariyalur, and Thyagi Viswanath Das Nagar.
Metro Water said tanker lorries are being mobilised to deliver water to the impacted neighbourhoods, and residents requiring emergency supplies can book tankers through the 'Dial for Water' feature on the agency's website. Tanker supplies to existing water tanks and public street taps in areas lacking household connections or dealing with low pressure will continue without disruption. The cave-in occurred three months after a similar incident on the opposite side of the road damaged another 35-year-old line supplying Central Chennai; both ageing pipes are slated to be merged into a single replacement line under the RMS project.
