Mumbai: With just three months left before the monsoon, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) and the railway administration have joined hands to prevent waterlogging at railway stations.
Additional Municipal Commissioner (Projects) Abhijit Bangar has directed both authorities to conduct joint site inspections and implement long-term solutions to ensure uninterrupted suburban railway services. His instructions come in response to last year’s heavy monsoon rains, which caused severe waterlogging at Chunabhatti and Bhandup railway stations, leading to major train delays and affecting thousands of commuters.
In a pre-monsoon preparedness review meeting on February 18, BMC Commissioner Bhushan Gagrani discussed concerns raised by railway officials about these stations. Acting swiftly, Bangar convened a meeting today with officials from the Stormwater Drainage Department, Bridges Department, and the railway division to outline necessary interventions.
One of the key projects involves expanding a storage tank at Maharashtra Nagar’s pumping station from 5 x 5 meters to 15 x 6 meters to improve water drainage. Since this requires construction on railway land, coordination with railway authorities is essential. If the tender process is completed on time, the project is expected to be finished by May 31, 2025.
At Chunabhatti station, BMC plans to install two high-capacity pumps to divert rainwater from the highway society into drains, preventing it from reaching the station. Additionally, a proposal has been made to reroute the stormwater drain beyond the railway boundary and connect it to an existing drain on the western side. This would help channel excess rainwater towards the Mithi River.
Meanwhile, at Bhandup’s Usha Nagar, the Bridges Department is relocating a stormwater drain and demolishing an old bridge to prevent flooding, with work expected to be completed by May 15. The railway department is also extending a stormwater drain beneath the tracks at Matunga to enhance drainage efficiency.
With the monsoon fast approaching, Bangar has emphasized the need for close coordination between departments to complete all projects on time, ensuring Mumbai’s suburban railway network remains operational during heavy rains.