Despite significant investments in upgrading Mumbai’s stormwater drainage network, recurring waterlogging during intense monsoon spells continues to pose a major challenge. The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) is now preparing a comprehensive Rs 13,000 crore flood mitigation master plan aimed at making the city more resilient to extreme rainfall events.
Additional Municipal Commissioner Abhijit Bangar outlined the civic body’s strategy to address flooding, improve road infrastructure, enhance walkability and strengthen Mumbai’s long-term urban resilience.
Explaining why flooding continues despite drainage upgrades, Bangar said the city’s stormwater system is designed to handle 55 mm of rainfall per hour, but rainfall intensity often exceeds that during extreme weather events.
“We have increased the capacity of our stormwater drains to carry 55 mm of rainfall per hour. However, there are days when rainfall intensity exceeds that,” Bangar said.
He added that Mumbai’s geography presents different challenges across the island city and suburbs. While reclaimed land in South Mumbai relies on an ageing drainage network, suburban flooding is influenced by rivers originating from the Sanjay Gandhi National Park and tidal conditions.
Bangar also highlighted that garbage dumped into drains continues to worsen flooding despite regular desilting operations.
“During desilting, we have found discarded auto-rickshaws and motorcycles inside nullahs,” he said, adding that the BMC is planning to install waste-trapping nets along nullahs wherever feasible.
The proposed flood mitigation programme is being developed jointly with IIT Bombay and the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) with financial assistance from the Central government. The plan aims to minimise disruption to road, rail and air transport during heavy rainfall and significantly reduce the duration of waterlogging.
According to Bangar, the project proposes 33 strategically located pumping stations, up from the existing 18 along the Mithi River. The locations will be determined based on actual flood behaviour, while Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) will be prepared by independent agencies to ensure greater transparency.
“The first phase will begin in October 2026 and will include a pumping station on the Mithi river. High-capacity pumping stations at Mogra and Mahul, along with the Andheri Subway project, are also part of the plan. The overall project is expected to be completed by 2029,” Bangar said.
The BMC believes the ambitious flood management programme, coupled with infrastructure upgrades, will play a crucial role in reducing Mumbai’s vulnerability to increasingly frequent extreme rainfall events.
Source: Mumbai Mirror
