Sinkhole appears on Sargodha Road

Decades-old infrastructure collapses under pressure, causing traffic disruptions

JARANWALA:

A third sinkhole has appeared within four months on Sargodha Road, Jaranwala, due to the collapse of an outdated sewerage pipeline, originally laid decades ago by the Water and Sanitation Agency (WASA).

Emergency repairs have begun to restore traffic flow on this vital city artery.

Sargodha Road, which connects two major motorways leading to Islamabad and Multan, is essential for daily heavy traffic, including stone-laden trucks from Chiniot and commercial traffic linked to shopping malls, housing colonies, and departmental stores.

The aging sewerage system beneath the road is proving inadequate under the pressure of increased urbanization and traffic.

Engineering sources reported that this is the ninth sinkhole in the urban areas of Faisalabad over the last decade. WASA Director Farhan Akram said the sinkhole is caused by a 66-inch sewerage pipeline laid in 1983, which reached the end of its service life in 2013.

Despite exceeding its designed lifespan, the pipeline was never replaced. Over time, it developed leaks and cracks, causing water seepage, which ultimately weakened the road structure and led to the sinkhole formation.

The pipeline runs for approximately 14 kilometres from Sheikhupura to the Bawa Chak disposal station, and replacing it will cost an estimated Rs250 million - a sum that seems out of reach given the current financial constraints in Pakistan. The road had been resurfaced and carpeted in 2023, adding further frustration as excavation and repairs have now halted traffic.

Faisalabad Development Authority (FDA) sources revealed that a Traffic Engineering and Planning Agency (TEPA) was established in 2014 to coordinate between various government departments to prevent such repeated damage. However, TEPA has never become operational due to lack of funding and manpower, resulting in frequent road cuts and wasted development funds.

WASA Managing Director Amir Aziz explained that while the replacement of the sewerage infrastructure is necessary, lack of resources has delayed it.

The city's commissioner has sent a summary to the Punjab chief minister requesting Rs10 billion for the replacement of sewerage infrastructure of the metropolitan city on a vast scale. He said repairing of road is underway to restore traffic soon.