Surat: In another incident along the metro corridor, a 10–15-foot-deep cavity developed on a road in the Shahpore area on Wednesday.Locals feared that the cavity may have affected the foundation of their buildings. However, metro officials said the cavity was caused by loose backfilling carried out by an agency after underground utility work, and not due to metro tunnelling activity.According to officials, the area has a dense network of underground pipes and cables, and the soil used for backfilling during utility work was left insufficiently compacted. Over time, the loose soil settled, leading to the formation of the cavity. Officials clarified that the tunnel boring machine (TBM) had already passed through the area and is currently about 20 m s away from the site.“Metro officials rushed to the spot immediately. The loose soil around the cavity was excavated and concrete filling was carried out to stabilise the affected section,” an official statement said.Authorities added that the cavity is confined to the road surface and that no settlement or structural distress has been detected in the adjacent buildings so far. Nevertheless, residents of nearby apartments have been evacuated as a precautionary measure.The Gujarat Metro Rail Corporation Limited (GMRCL) said building settlements are being monitored continuously, while experts from SVNIT have been roped in to independently assess the situation as an additional safety measure.
