Less than a week after water seeped into the newly operational Acharya Atre Chowk station, authorities were spotted hastily deploying plastic sheets, tarpaulin covers and makeshift concrete walls to stem further ingress. The temporary measures stand in sharp contrast to the Metro 3 project’s Rs 37,000 crore high-tech image. The incident has disrupted services and triggered serious questions about Mumbai Metro’s climate resilience, flood preparedness and long-term viability in a city frequently lashed by heavy monsoon rains.
Inspections at other Aqua Line stations, including Bandra-Kurla Complex (BKC) and Marol, reveal that plastic coverings, cement bunds and sandbags are being used to keep rainwater out. Experts say while such responses may offer short-term protection, they point to broader failures in hydrological planning.
According to officials from the Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation Ltd (MMRCL), rectification began promptly, with dewatering systems now functioning and no water reportedly accumulated within stations. However, public confidence has been negatively impacted for many commuters and urban planners. Several passengers have altered their travel routes or avoided the underground line altogether, wary of sudden flooding during cloudbursts.
Transport analysts argue that Mumbai’s infrastructure demands more rigorous flood-proofing measures. Ground-level entry points without elevation are especially vulnerable, a design oversight that has now come under fire. While not all stations were affected, the visible use of stopgap solutions like plastic tarps has drawn criticism.
Experts emphasise the need for climate-adaptive transit systems akin to those in Tokyo or Amsterdam, which include layered waterproofing and advanced runoff redirection. Although officials describe the incident as isolated, calls for independent audits and better monsoon planning are growing louder.
As the monsoon intensifies, the real test of Metro 3’s engineering — and institutional resilience — is only just beginning.
Source: Urban Acres
