As Mumbai braces for another intense monsoon, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has stepped up its efforts to prevent waterlogging, especially in flood-prone areas that disrupted railway services during previous seasons. In a proactive move, the civic body has decided to install additional dewatering pumps equipped with IoT-based sensors. These sensors will allow the Disaster Management Control Room to monitor pump status in real-time, ensuring a faster and more efficient response to heavy rainfall.
The renewed focus on monsoon preparedness follows the heavy downpour on 7 July 2024, which caused waterlogging in over 100 locations across Mumbai. In several places, existing dewatering pumps failed to function properly, leading to significant inconvenience for commuters. Determined to prevent a repeat, BMC has started inspecting and upgrading its drainage infrastructure.
On Friday, Additional Municipal Commissioner (Projects), Abhijeet Bangar, conducted inspections across several high-risk flood zones. These included the Mankhurd–Maharashtra Nagar and Shell Colony underpasses in Chembur, Tembe Bridge, Chandrodya Society near Kurla Junction, Chunabhatti railway station, and the Hindmata holding pond. He was accompanied by Chief Engineer (Storm Water Drains), Sridhar Chaudhary, along with other key officials and engineers.
During his visit, Bangar directed officials to conduct hydraulic surveys and implement engineering solutions to improve drainage at critical locations like Chunabhatti, Mankhurd, and the Tembe Bridge. To mitigate flooding in Mankhurd, a mini pumping station is proposed, featuring three high-capacity pumps (3,000 cubic metres per hour each). The tender process for this project is currently underway. Furthermore, he instructed that rainwater from the Mankhurd underpass should be diverted westward through an 800-metre pipeline leading to the creek, while the stormwater drain running along the railway at Maharashtra Nagar must be deepened and widened. The related tender is expected to be finalised before the onset of the monsoon, with work scheduled to begin by 1 October and complete before the next monsoon cycle.
At Chandrodya Society in Kurla West, a location prone to annual flooding, water accumulation has intensified over the last two years due to ongoing metro construction. A metro pillar has been built within the society’s original stormwater drain, obstructing flow. To resolve the issue, a parallel stormwater drain has now been constructed beside the old one, ensuring continued water discharge without disrupting metro development.
Bangar also evaluated the functioning of the Hindmata holding pond, where improvements have already reduced flooding. He recommended the installation of flow meters to monitor pump output and ensure consistent performance across all seven pumps. This will help track the volume of water being discharged and enhance the operational efficiency of the system.
While new waterlogging hotspots tend to appear every year, Bangar emphasised the importance of studying traditional trouble zones to implement both short-term fixes and long-term structural solutions. The broader goal, he noted, is to significantly reduce the extent and duration of water accumulation in vulnerable areas during the upcoming monsoon.
Source: The Free Press Journal
