In a significant infrastructure upgrade, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has planned a maintenance project for the century-old storm water arch drains in south mumbai.
This project is estimated to cost INR 416 crore. It will use a unique technology called, geo-polymer, which will prevent the need for trenching and excavating the road surface.
These subterranean arch-drains are a legacy of the British Empire. They are at risk of collapsing due to their age and disrepair. This might cause road cave-ins too in the future.
After a thorough survey in 2022 to assess their structural condition, the local authority decided to apply a geo-polymer coating to the walls of these drains. This chemical-based coating, known as Geo-Polymer Lining (GL) technology, is designed to stop water leaks and prevent damage to roadways.
The project is expected to be completed within the next three years. It involves the application of the polymer coating to the inside walls of the drains. This will ensure a smooth water flow.
The maintenance work has already been carried out at 27 locations over a 14-kilometre stretch, including Churchgate, Colaba, Fort, PD'Mello Road, Shimla House, Senapati Bapat Marg, Dadar, and Matunga.
The need for this maintenance work was highlighted by a road collapse along Pedder Road in 2012. It had caused severe traffic disruptions in southern Mumbai. It took the BMC three years to replace it.
The BMC has already been using geo-polymer technology and rapid-hardening concrete technologies to repair potholes caused by heavy rain. BMC announced this on July 29, 2022.
Later, in April 2023, the Bombay High Court was involved in the matter. It investigated the case regarding the use of geopolymer technology for storm water arch drains after a petition was filed by a bidder. It ruled that the restoration of Mumbai's stormwater arch drains required the use of the most advanced technology available.
The tendering process was challenged by a petitioner-company, alleging that the terms were designed to favor GeoTree Solutions, the company that developed the GeoSpray Geopolymer technology. The petitioner claimed that terms were made in such a way that only GeoTree Solutions would be able to apply.
The Court, however, ruled that the petitioner lacked standing to contest the bidding procedure as they did not participate in it. The Court also noted that the tendering authority was the best judge to determine the appropriate technology for the task.
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