Mumbai: BMC Identifies THESE 7 Key Flood-Prone Spots On Railway Lines After Heavy Rains Batter City

Mumbai: The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has identified seven key spots near the Central and Harbour railway lines that contributed to Mumbai's flooding when heavy rains lashed the city on September 25. The rain recorded over 100 mm between 8:30 pm and 11:30 pm, caused waterlogging in these areas, leading to the stoppage of railway services.

Civic officials revealed that many of these locations are near railway tracks, and the overflow from nearby drains flooded the tracks, as per a TIE report. The storm water drains (SWD) and micro tunnels in these areas were unable to handle the downpour, leading to inundation. The BMC pinpointed specific locations on the Central Line, including:

Spots On Central Line:

1. Railway yard at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT).

2. Storm water drains near Bhandup station.

3. Storm water drains near Vidyavihar station.

READ MORE: Weather News: Rains To Continue In UP, Bihar, Himachal And Uttarakhand; Yellow Alert In Place For Northeast

4. Connecting areas between Sion and Matunga.

5. Connecting areas between Vikhroli and Kanjurmarg.

Spots On Harbour Line:

1. Railway tracks between Sewri and Wadala.

2. Railway tracks between Kurla and Mankhurd.

The primary reason for waterlogging in these areas was clogged drainage networks, which couldn’t cope with the rain. Abhijit Bangar, the BMC’s additional municipal commissioner (projects), explained that the narrow drainage lines below the railway tracks were a key problem in the report. “The existing drainage networks are too narrow to handle heavy rain, which led to the tracks getting submerged,” Bangar said.

READ MORE: ‘Allergic To People Saying Yeah’: CJI Chandrachud Reminds Petitioner Of Court Decorum

He added that the BMC and the Railways have agreed to widen the drainage lines to allow better water flow. However, some projects are facing delays due to challenges in relocating project-affected parties (PAP). In the Harbour Line, slum areas encroaching on railway tracks have worsened the situation, as waste is being dumped into the drainage system, causing further blockages.

In a meeting held on Monday, both the BMC and Railway officials decided to cover the drainage networks with protective nets to prevent further waste disposal. Bangar assured that both agencies are committed to starting the pending work on drainage augmentation as soon as possible. “We’ve reached a consensus on moving forward quickly, and the drainage improvements must be completed before the monsoon,” he said.