June 10, 2025: In a proactive move to counter monsoon-related flooding, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has deployed 10 vehicle-mounted mobile pumping units for the first time this year. These units are intended to serve as a backup in case existing pumping stations become non-operational due to technical or environmental challenges.
Each of these mobile vehicles is equipped with two high-capacity pumps, each capable of draining 250 cubic meters of water per hour. The initiative comes as part of the BMC’s broader flood management strategy, aimed at preventing waterlogging in the city’s low-lying areas — a recurring issue that has caused inconvenience to residents in past monsoons.
Over the years, Mumbai has witnessed increasingly erratic rainfall patterns, with certain areas recording up to 300 mm of rain within a few hours. This year, the city experienced record rainfall as early as May, reinforcing the urgent need for responsive and adaptive flood management infrastructure.
While the BMC traditionally installs fixed pumping sets at 514 identified low-lying locations, the mobile units are intended to serve as a swift-response alternative in the event of equipment failure. Additional Municipal Commissioner (Projects), Abhijit Bangar, emphasized that these backup systems must remain fully operational and that response times should be minimized to ensure timely drainage.
The Rainwater Drainage Department has initiated a four-year rental agreement for these mobile pumping units, covering the monsoon seasons from 2025 through 2028. Of the 10 units, seven will be assigned to the offices of each Zonal Deputy Commissioner, while the remaining three will be stationed with the Deputy Chief Engineers of Operations & Maintenance, Eastern Suburbs, and Western Suburbs, respectively.
To maintain round-the-clock readiness, personnel will be deployed in three shifts, ensuring 24-hour availability of these mobile flood response teams.
This strategic measure is expected to significantly improve the city’s ability to respond to sudden flooding, thereby reducing the impact on daily life and safeguarding public infrastructure.
