Lucknow : A recent road collapse in Jankipuram, Lucknow, has once again highlighted the glaring lack of coordination between civic development agencies. Contrary to initial assumptions of sewer leakage, Rajesh Mathpal, Project Director at SUEZ India, clarified that the incident occurred due to underground cable-laying work carried out by LESA without prior notice or coordination.
According to SUEZ India officials, LESA had undertaken the laying of high-tension (HT) underground electrical cables in the area around two months ago using the Horizontal Directional Drilling (HDD) method. This technique, although widely used for its minimal surface disruption, led to soil loosening beneath the surface, which eventually caused the road to sink.
During the inspection, SUEZ confirmed that the collapse had no connection to sewer leakage. “The damage is due to cavities formed during the HDD process,” said Mathpal. He further explained that such technologies, while beneficial, are increasingly being used by electricity and telecom departments, often without consulting other essential service providers like sewer and water utilities. This leads to unintentional damage to existing infrastructure.
Call for Better Inter-Agency Coordination
Rajesh Mathpal has strongly urged LESA and other utility departments to notify SUEZ and Jal Kal (Water Works) before undertaking HDD work. “Joint inspections before starting such projects are crucial to avoid such incidents and safeguard public infrastructure,” he stated.
SUEZ has also issued an appeal to all civic bodies to improve coordination and communication to ensure that development work is carried out smoothly, safely, and in the public interest — without damage or disruption.
This incident brings to light the pressing need for structured communication protocols between departments, especially as urban infrastructure becomes increasingly complex and interdependent. Residents and experts alike hope that such wake-up calls prompt immediate administrative reforms to prevent similar mishaps in the future.
