Mumbai’s Acharya Atre Chowk underground metro station on Aqua Line 3 witnessed minor flooding on Sunday following a spell of intense rainfall, just weeks after its grand inauguration on 10th May 2025. The flooding was reportedly caused by a failure in the water-blocking barrier system, resulting in rainwater entering the station premises.
Visuals from the scene showed rainwater gushing down staircases as commuters navigated the submerged platforms with trousers rolled up. In response, Mumbai Metro released a public notice stating that services on Metro Line-3 would be temporarily curtailed, with trains now running only up to Worli Station instead of Acharya Atre Chowk. “We sincerely regret the inconvenience caused,” the notice read.
The incident sparked a wave of criticism and humour online. Social media users sarcastically dubbed the situation “Ram Bharose” (left to God’s mercy). One user remarked, “This is pure corruption. Those responsible must be held accountable – licences cancelled, jailed. This is not expected from the nation’s financial capital.” Another commented, “India may have surpassed Japan in GDP, but our crumbling infrastructure says otherwise. Corruption flourishes under the guise of nationalism.”
Comments such as “Aao kabhi Mumbai boat ride karne” (Come for a boat ride in Mumbai), “Corruption at its peak”, and “An opportunity for the government to extort more tax in the name of nation-building” echoed across platforms like X.
Meanwhile, the India Meteorological Department issued a red alert for Mumbai, warning of continued heavy rainfall, thunderstorms, lightning, and gusty winds. Several areas across the city remain waterlogged, once again bringing infrastructure and accountability into sharp focus.
The flooding incident has raised fresh questions about the quality and preparedness of public infrastructure projects, especially those launched in haste under political or symbolic pressure.
Source: Mint
