Ongoing redevelopment works at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) played a crucial role in clearing waterlogged tracks near Masjid station following Monday’s heavy rainfall. The Central Railway (CR) successfully diverted rainwater into a 25–30 metre-deep trench dug as part of the CSMT’s reconstruction, allowing for quicker drainage.
Floodgates at the Yellow Gate pumping station were closed early Monday, and additional workers removed approximately two cubic metres of waste—equivalent to 40 cement bags—from the site. “We installed high-capacity pumps and created a temporary channel to redirect water to the CSMT site,” a senior CR official confirmed.
In preparation for the monsoon, CR had planned to remove 1.6 lakh cubic metres of silt and waste by 31 May. However, this effort halted last week due to early rains. Notably, Masjid station has not historically faced severe waterlogging like Sion or Matunga, leading to an absence of on-ground emergency personnel.
Of the 112 water pumps scheduled for installation across 31 vulnerable points along the CSMT–Kasara/Karjat/Panvel corridors, only 40% had been installed by 25 May. The remainder were installed a day late, on Tuesday.
An internal CR meeting cited poor rain forecasting as a challenge. A yellow alert was only upgraded to red after the heaviest rains had passed. Another concern raised was the reduced capacity of cross drains between CSMT and Masjid—older 1100mm arch drains had been replaced with smaller 600mm drains, hindering water flow. The Rail Land Development Authority (RLDA) aims to complete an additional 600mm drainage line in the coming days.
Elsewhere, micro-tunnelling near Sion-Kurla and Sandhurst Road is nearing completion. Western Railway has also reinforced pre-monsoon efforts, cleaning 58 culverts, trimming trees, and installing over 100 high-capacity pumps to mitigate flood risks.
Source: Hindustan Times
