With the monsoon season approaching, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has intensified preparations to tackle flooding across Mumbai. However, recent civic data shows that the number of identified waterlogging hotspots in the city has increased, even as several infrastructure projects meant to address the issue remain delayed.
According to official figures, the number of flood-prone locations in Mumbai has risen from 453 last year to 498 this year, marking an increase of about 10 percent. Civic officials clarified that the rise does not necessarily indicate entirely new problem areas. In several cases, locations that had previously been addressed have resurfaced due to issues such as encroachments and blocked drainage channels.
The city’s vulnerability to flooding has also been highlighted in the Mumbai Climate Action Plan (MCAP), which states that nearly 35 percent of Mumbai’s population lives in low-lying areas that are susceptible to waterlogging due to their saucer-shaped topography and limited drainage capacity.
To address the challenge, the BMC has allocated ₹1,800 crore to the Storm Water Drains department in its 2026–27 budget, representing an increase of around 12.5 percent compared to the previous year. Of this amount, ₹286.26 crore has been set aside for the rejuvenation of the Mithi River.
Officials said that work has already been completed at 391 of the 498 identified locations, while efforts are underway to address another 52 sites before the monsoon arrives. Despite this progress, a number of major projects remain pending.
Internal civic documents indicate that work at 29 chronic flooding hotspots is still at the planning or tendering stage. These include several busy and sensitive locations such as the area near Gate No. 4 of Nair Hospital. Drainage improvement work required at the site is expected to be completed only by 2028.
Other locations awaiting permanent solutions include Nana Chowk, Saki Naka near the metro station, and the Andheri and Khar subways.
Civic officials said encroachments along major drains continue to slow down projects that require widening or desilting of channels. In the eastern suburbs, areas such as Mankhurd have also faced delays due to such obstructions.
In the meantime, the civic body plans to rely on temporary measures to manage flooding. The BMC intends to deploy more dewatering pumps than the 500 used last year and introduce four flood recovery vehicles fitted with auto-prime pumps to remove accumulated water quickly.
As the city enters the pre-monsoon period, residents in areas including Vikhroli, Andheri and Parel remain dependent on these interim arrangements while waiting for long-term drainage upgrades.
Source: News18
