Mumbai: An underground gas pipeline was damaged during the ongoing road concretisation works at TPS Road Number 5 in Santacruz West, causing panic in the locality as the smell of gas spread far and wide. Close to 250 flats across 11 buildings were left without a gas connection throughout the day.
As teams from the gas agency rushed to the site, residents recorded videos, sharing that they had already informed the road contractor about the exact location of the gas pipeline. “Despite this, the damage occurred. This only raises questions about whether the workers doing the road works are skilled enough,” said Ashin Shah, a local resident. He added following the damage, all residents were asked to turn off the gas as a priority.
Residents pointed out how just a week ago, a water pipeline got damaged while road concretisation works were being carried out on another road in the same locality. The locals said if utilities continued to be damaged in this manner, they would be forced to stop the works.
In March, the BMC’s roads department had fined a contractor Rs 50,000 for damaging and cutting roots of trees during excavation for the city’s mega concretisation project.
The violations occurred on five roads—Jivba Atmaram Raul Road, Old Prabhadevi Road, Metal Box Lane, Veer Santaji Lane, and Famous Studio Lane—spanning south Mumbai’s Prabhadevi and Mahalaxmi areas.