Lucknow: Road caves in near Ekana as rainwater seeps into sandy soil
Rain-Soaked Ground Causes Road Collapse Near Ekana Stadium
Bharatmorningnews.com – A portion of a road in CG City near Ekana Stadium has sunk after rainwater entered sandy ground beside an under-construction multi-level parking facility. The incident damaged part of the two-lane carriageway and caused a nearby streetlight pole to bend, leading authorities to close the affected stretch temporarily.
The damaged section measures roughly 15 metres in length and five metres in width. Cracks first appeared across one lane before the road surface began to settle. The Lucknow Development Authority (LDA) restricted access to the area as a safety measure while the site is assessed.
Excavation Site Affected by Persistent Rain
The road runs alongside a project involving deep excavation for a planned triple-basement parking structure. LDA executive engineer Ajeet Kumar said digging at the site had reached about 22 feet, while the final design calls for excavation to nearly 30 feet.
Work to remove soil was suspended once the rainy season began. During the last three days, intense rainfall led to water collecting around the excavation zone. The accumulated water then filtered into the loose, sandy soil beside the project, weakening support beneath the adjacent road.
The episode highlights the sensitivity of roads located close to large excavation sites, particularly where water can gather during extended spells of rain. Saturated sandy soil can lose its ability to support nearby surfaces, making visible cracking an important warning sign before a larger failure occurs.
“Retaining walls were constructed to prevent soil from shifting during excavation. However, excessive rainwater seepage affected the area, following which the road settled,” officials said.
Retaining walls had been installed as part of the construction work to hold back surrounding earth during the digging process. Even so, the recent seepage appears to have affected the ground conditions beyond the excavation area, resulting in settlement of the road surface.
Parking Project Planned for Hundreds of Vehicles
The multi-level parking facility is being developed on a 6,898-square-metre site behind a mall in CG City. Once completed, it is intended to provide space for about 460 cars and 250 two-wheelers.
The project’s planned triple-basement design requires excavation well below normal road level. Such works involve careful management of surrounding soil and water, especially during the monsoon period, when runoff and standing water can alter conditions around an active construction site.
The road closure is intended to reduce risk to motorists, pedestrians and workers while engineers examine the damaged area. The presence of cracks and a bent streetlight pole indicates that the impact extended beyond a minor surface defect, making a technical review necessary before the route can be restored for regular use.
Inspection to Establish Extent of Damage
LDA personnel covered the cracked area with plastic sheets to limit further water entry. The temporary protection is aimed at preventing additional seepage while rainwater and soil conditions around the damaged section are monitored.
A technical inspection will now establish the precise reason for the cave-in and determine how widely the surrounding ground and road structure have been affected. The assessment is expected to guide the repair approach, including any stabilisation required before the road surface is rebuilt.
Officials have instructed the agency handling the parking project to repair the road using its own funds. The agency will not receive additional payment from the LDA for restoring the damaged stretch.
For people travelling through the Ekana Stadium and CG City area, the temporary closure means the affected road should be avoided until it is declared safe. Drivers should remain alert for diversions, barriers or altered traffic movement near the construction zone, particularly during further rainfall.
The incident also underlines the importance of drainage control around deep construction work in rapidly developing urban areas. Where excavation is close to public roads, managing rainwater is essential not only for keeping construction on schedule but also for protecting nearby infrastructure from ground movement.
Authorities will rely on the inspection findings to decide when the road can reopen and what corrective work is needed around the parking site. Until then, the damaged portion remains under precautionary closure as the LDA seeks to prevent further settlement and ensure repairs address the underlying problem.
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