Vadodara: Once known as Sanskarinagari (cultural city), Vadodara is now being dubbed Bhuvanagari (sinkhole city) by critics, as residents point to the recurring cave-ins on roads in the Akota and Mujmahuda areas. Frequent sinkholes in these adjoining localities have repeatedly disrupted traffic movement and affected business activity.Civic officials said the problem originates beneath the surface. Despite the laying of new drainage lines, the old and damaged sewage network, coupled with poor soil quality, has been identified as the primary cause of the cave-ins. While earlier repairs had led to temporary road closures, the ongoing work on new sewage lines has now added to public inconvenience.An official of the Vadodara Municipal Corporation said that around a dozen sinkholes were reported in the Akota and Mujmahuda areas after the 2024 floods. According to VMC officials, the old sewage lines in these localities were severely damaged due to extreme pressure and soil settlement during the floods, resulting in leakages and subsequent cave-ins.To address the issue, the civic body decided to lay a new sewage pipeline from Sarika Park in Akota to the Atladara sewage treatment plant (STP). The VMC undertook the replacement of a 2.5-km-long drainage line at a cost of Rs 92 crore, using Glass Reinforced Plastic (GRP) pipes for the first time to ensure better durability and improved wastewater flow. Officials said the new pipeline is being inserted into the existing line, minimising the need for extensive excavation.However, officials admitted that cave-ins were also reported on Productivity Road, where a new pipeline had been laid around a decade ago using micro-tunnelling technology. Investigations revealed that the voids were forming not along the new line, but along the abandoned old sewage line.VMC officials said the old line had not been sealed earlier, allowing water and soil to enter it, leading to soil settlement and cave-ins along its alignment. The abandoned line has now been sealed using concrete.“With the new GRP pipeline, the issue of cave-ins in the Akota and Mujmahuda areas will be resolved. On Productivity Road, the old line has been sealed, and the new pipeline is not responsible for the cave-ins,” said Haresh Rathwa, executive engineer (drainage projects).Box Soil study plannedThe VMC has commissioned a detailed soil study in the Akota and Mujmahuda areas to understand the nature of the soil, as the localities have been prone to recurring cave-ins for several years. Civic officials said the corporation has so far been unable to find a permanent solution to the problem. Previous studies conducted by researchers had indicated that poor soil quality may be responsible for ground settlement in these areas. A VMC official said an agency has been appointed to carry out the study and submit a detailed report.
