AGRA: Cracks have appeared in more than 150 houses in Agra’s Moti Katra and Syed Gali areas, forcing more than 500 residents to leave their homes. The damage, allegedly caused by ongoing metro rail tunnelling for an underground track, has raised safety concerns and sparked demands for urgent repairs.
Despite assurances, sceptical locals have demanded immediate compensation and accountability from metro officials.
On Thursday afternoon, divisional commissioner Ritu Maheshwari inspected the affected areas under phase 2 of the metro rail project. She directed officials to ensure quality repairs and ordered a fresh survey involving municipal and metro officials, with videography and photography, to reassess damages.
“The repairs should be done only after ensuring property owners’ satisfaction,” Maheshwari said. She also instructed the metro project director to address damaged sewerage and water systems, whitewash repaired buildings, and obtain a post-repair survey report from IIT Roorkee for quality verification. “Buildings must only be handed over after owner consent and satisfaction,” she added.
The tunnelling began in Agra in Oct 2023 as part of a 2km underground railway project connecting Agra College to Mankameshwar Mandir station, with excavations reaching depths of 100–150 feet.
Residents claimed the cracks started forming in July and have worsened over time. Iron jacks have been installed to stabilise 146 homes, but locals fear their houses may collapse at any moment.
“Our house is on the verge of collapse. Doors cannot even be installed because of the extensive damage,” said Priyanka Agarwal, a resident of Moti Katra. “We were asked to vacate for a few days, but where can we go now? The entire house could collapse at any moment.”
Sonam Agarwal, another local, added, “The carelessness of metro rail project officials has ruined our lives. My husband works in the clothing business. We live in fear of our house collapsing at night. The floor is sinking and the roof and walls have all cracked. We’ve become homeless. Metro’s negligence has brought this calamity upon us. No one is listening to our grievances. What should we do?”
Hariom Sharma, a devotee of the 200-year-old Kaila Devi Chamunda temple in Post Office Lane, said, “Due to cracks in the walls, the upper portion of the temple has tilted to one side and is now resting on the balcony of the house opposite. The temple was renovated just three years ago.”
“I’ve lived here with my family for 30 years and never faced such problems,” said Sudhir Verma, who has vacated his house. “Since the tunnel excavation began, cracks have appeared in houses. This is metro officials’ negligence. We’ll take the contracting firm to court. The sewage system and water supply infrastructure are also affected. We should be provided new houses.”
Agra metro rail project director Arvind Rai said, “Earlier, a survey was conducted. Damage was found in 50 houses. Of these, 35 were repaired and people who moved out came back. Repairing of 15 other houses is being done. Some of the houses in the area have pre-existing cracks.”
