In preparation for the upcoming monsoon, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has established a high-tech ‘War Room’ at its headquarters to oversee desilting operations across Mumbai. Located on the sixth floor of the BMC HQ, the War Room functions in two shifts—from 8 am to 11 pm—and is managed by a three-member team, including an engineer, ensuring rigorous supervision of both major and minor drain cleaning activities.
To enhance transparency and accountability, contractors are now required to submit 30-second video clips and photographs as proof of work. Smaller drains must have CCTV footage recorded both before and after desilting, with all visuals streamed live to the War Room. Citizens can monitor the progress through a publicly accessible dashboard that provides real-time data on the quantity of silt removed in each locality, along with before-and-after visuals.
Leveraging Artificial Intelligence, the BMC is reviewing around 7,000 minutes of submitted footage to detect irregularities such as reused or altered clips. The system flags anomalies for manual verification and prevents vehicles from generating weighbridge slips if the tarpaulin is not removed—ensuring accurate silt weight measurement. It also identifies off-route dumping and suspiciously heavy loads. All key drains and the Mithi River have been georeferenced, enabling complete tracking of each desilting vehicle’s journey.
BMC Commissioner Bhushan Gagrani has urged residents to avoid dumping waste into drains, emphasising that such actions often lead to severe waterlogging during heavy rains. In addition, the Storm Water Drainage (SWD) department has installed flood-control valves at vulnerable locations. These valves automatically open when water levels or pressure exceed a set threshold, thereby reducing infrastructure strain and enhancing flood resilience.
With these proactive measures, Mumbai’s civic body is aiming to minimise monsoon-related disruptions and improve public safety across the city.
Source: TOI
