Now, CP gets first-of-its-kind underground service tunnel
6 May 2013 7:29 AM IST
Despite facing criticism for repeatedly missing the deadline for completing the renovation of Connaught Place, New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) officials claim to have met global standards and brought the heritage shopping and corporate arcade at par with international venues.
One of the high-points of the renovation work has been construction of an underground service corridor (tunnel) in Connaught Place to systematically line up underground utilities such electricity line, gas and water pipelines, telecommunication cables and fire-fighting equipment into designated ducts.
In a first of its kind initiative in the country, a 1.2 km underground tunnel has been laid down in the middle circle of CP to pack in all utilities. The 7 meter wide and 7 meter high tunnel has neatly stacked racks for various utilities.
Each duct is codified with a specific colour and will hold only utility. The tunnel also has a one meter wide walking space, which engineers can use to keep an eye on the various networks inside.
Other agencies can use this to lay their respective pipelines in the future.
Shopkeepers and residents of Connaught Place, however, say they were never informed about the project plan and kept in the dark about its details. They also complain that the long period over which the Middle Circle has been dug up has led to loss of business and caused great inconvenience to them.
On the other hand, Engineers India Limited, which is executing the project, had no option but to accept the project as the government wanted to proceed with it quickly in the run-up to the Commonwealth Games 2010. But then they were made to cover it up for the Games so that foreigners did not carry home a bad impression about Delhi.
Engineers working on the Project insist the service tunnel has been designed to meet the needs of CP for years to come.
EIL engineer said that the ‘gravity system of sewerage and drainage have been kept outside the tunnels. The sewerage system earlier used to flow from A to F block and then used to exit Connaught Place via Barakhambha Road.
But now they exit from very radial road and connect to city sewerage system running along the outer Circle. Due to this the EIL has been able to place the sewerage system higher than before. This makes it easier to approach and maintain the sewerage system’.
The Delhi government had planned a similar project between Mayapuri and Brar Square in 2010.EIL had made several presentations before the Delhi government, but the project never saw the light of day.
One of the high-points of the renovation work has been construction of an underground service corridor (tunnel) in Connaught Place to systematically line up underground utilities such electricity line, gas and water pipelines, telecommunication cables and fire-fighting equipment into designated ducts.
In a first of its kind initiative in the country, a 1.2 km underground tunnel has been laid down in the middle circle of CP to pack in all utilities. The 7 meter wide and 7 meter high tunnel has neatly stacked racks for various utilities.
Each duct is codified with a specific colour and will hold only utility. The tunnel also has a one meter wide walking space, which engineers can use to keep an eye on the various networks inside.
Other agencies can use this to lay their respective pipelines in the future.
Shopkeepers and residents of Connaught Place, however, say they were never informed about the project plan and kept in the dark about its details. They also complain that the long period over which the Middle Circle has been dug up has led to loss of business and caused great inconvenience to them.
On the other hand, Engineers India Limited, which is executing the project, had no option but to accept the project as the government wanted to proceed with it quickly in the run-up to the Commonwealth Games 2010. But then they were made to cover it up for the Games so that foreigners did not carry home a bad impression about Delhi.
Engineers working on the Project insist the service tunnel has been designed to meet the needs of CP for years to come.
EIL engineer said that the ‘gravity system of sewerage and drainage have been kept outside the tunnels. The sewerage system earlier used to flow from A to F block and then used to exit Connaught Place via Barakhambha Road.
But now they exit from very radial road and connect to city sewerage system running along the outer Circle. Due to this the EIL has been able to place the sewerage system higher than before. This makes it easier to approach and maintain the sewerage system’.
The Delhi government had planned a similar project between Mayapuri and Brar Square in 2010.EIL had made several presentations before the Delhi government, but the project never saw the light of day.
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