Mumbai’s long-awaited Mogra pumping station is finally set to enter the construction phase on October 15, nearly 20 years after it was first proposed. The project has secured the required environmental approvals and is expected to improve flood management in parts of Versova, Andheri and Jogeshwari.
Estimated at Rs 393 crore, the facility will come up along the Mogra nullah in the Oshiwara-Lokhandwala area. The project will include tidal gates, retaining structures and other supporting infrastructure to help manage stormwater during intense rainfall and high tides.
Although the project received approval in 2021 with a 24-month construction timeline, work faced prolonged delays because of land acquisition issues and a conflict with the alignment of Phase 2 of the Versova-Dahisar Coastal Road.
Initial work began in March 2025, but the proposed location subsequently had to be shifted towards Lokhandwala Creek Road. This change required fresh Coastal Regulation Zone approvals and environmental clearance from the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. A senior civic official said all necessary permissions have now been secured, clearing the way for construction.
The project has been allotted three years for completion, although the civic administration is targeting commissioning before 2029. Mogra is also a key element of Mumbai’s Rs 13,000-crore Integrated Flood Control Action Plan, which seeks to strengthen drainage infrastructure and improve the city’s ability to withstand monsoon flooding.
The broader programme includes expanding stormwater drain capacity, upgrading pumping systems, rejuvenating the Mithi River and introducing nature-based measures for flood mitigation.
Dhaval Shah, co-founder of the Lokhandwala Oshiwara Citizens Association, said the project had “already been delayed” and should now receive priority. Flood-prone areas around Link Road, Veera Desai Road and other low-lying parts of Andheri are expected to benefit.
Pumping stations play a crucial role during high tides, when floodgates are shut and stormwater cannot discharge naturally into the sea. Mumbai already has facilities at Irla, Haji Ali, Cleveland, Lovegrove, Reay Road-Britannia and Gajdhar Bandh.
Mogra and Mahul remain among the unfinished projects recommended under BRIMSTOWAD following the devastating 2005 Mumbai floods.
Source: Mumbai Live
