A section of Jharkhand's pioneering 20 km eight-lane highway in Dhanbad caved in near Raja Talab on Saturday, marking the second such incident for the World Bank-funded project inaugurated just 11 months ago. Constructed at a cost of Rs 461.9 crore, the road—Jharkhand's first of its kind—has faced repeated structural failures linked to leaks from an underlying water supply pipeline, officials from the State Highway Authority of Jharkhand (SHAJ) confirmed Tuesday. The collapse disrupted local traffic, but prompt repairs by the maintenance firm are underway, with completion expected by nightfall, minimising commuter inconvenience in this coal-belt industrial hub.
The issue stems from the Public Health Engineering Department (PHED)'s underground water pipeline, installed in 2019 beneath the highway, which was conceived the same year under then-Chief Minister Raghubar Das. During pressure testing for the Dhanbad water supply scheme, leaks have eroded subsoil, triggering subsidence and surface cave-ins.
A similar breach occurred in October 2024, shortly after Chief Minister Hemant Soren's inauguration on October 4, where about eight feet of roadway gave way. "Leakages occur due to pressure, causing soil collapse beneath the road," explained SHAJ Deputy General Manager Sanjay Kumar, noting the pipeline's extensive routing under the stretch.
Maintenance responsibilities fall to the Dhanbad Municipal Corporation (DMC), with a private firm handling day-to-day operations. Kumar revealed that SHAJ convened a joint meeting with PHED to address operator errors, such as leaving valves half-open, which exacerbate pressure and bursts. "The firm has been directed to monitor constantly and repair immediately to prevent recurrence," he added, emphasising coordinated oversight to safeguard the infrastructure vital for urban connectivity in a region prone to mining-related subsidence.
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The recurring failures raise questions about project resilience and interdepartmental coordination in Jharkhand, where infrastructure strains amid rapid urbanisation and resource extraction. While no injuries were reported, authorities urge caution for motorists. Full restoration will include reinforced monitoring to avert future hazards, underscoring the challenges of integrating utility networks with modern roadways.
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