Recent borewell-related incidents in Mumbai and Pune have highlighted serious shortcomings in how cities plan and manage underground infrastructure, raising concerns about safety and governance.
Last week’s incident in Pune, where borewell drilling led to water seeping into the Shivajinagar–Swargate underground Metro tunnel, may seem like an isolated case of negligence. However, a similar episode soon emerged in Mumbai, where an illegal borewell on a government plot damaged a section of the underground Metro Line 3 tunnel near Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus, resulting in the suspension of a civic official.
Two cities, two incidents — but a shared issue: critical infrastructure is being developed without a clear understanding of what lies beneath the surface.
The concern is particularly relevant for Pune, where authorities including the Pune Municipal Corporation and Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority are advancing an ambitious 52-km underground network project. Backed as a priority initiative by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, the plan aims to shift utilities, parking, and pedestrian pathways below ground to ease congestion above.
Yet, the recent borewell incident raises doubts about the city’s preparedness. Underground projects demand precise mapping of utilities such as pipelines, cables, and even legacy structures like old wells. A single drilling activity disrupting a metro tunnel signals deeper systemic issues beyond individual errors.
At present, Pune lacks a unified and accessible underground utilities map. Multiple agencies, including Maharashtra Metro Rail Corporation Limited, maintain fragmented data, with limited coordination or real-time oversight. Past incidents, such as a sinkhole in Budhwar Peth caused by an unrecorded well, further underscore these risks.
Mumbai’s recent case reflects a similar pattern, where unauthorised activity went undetected until damage occurred. While disciplinary action has been taken, it does not address broader gaps in monitoring and coordination.
As cities push ambitious underground infrastructure plans, experts stress that accurate data, integrated systems, and stricter enforcement are essential. Without these, urban expansion below ground risks becoming uncertain, with consequences for safety, cost, and public trust.
Source: Hindustan Times
