August 21, 2025: Heavy rain and unplanned urban development in the Vasai-Virar region have led to severe flooding, disrupting train services on the Virar–Churchgate route. A Western Railway (WR) spokesperson attributed the waterlogging on a 1.5-kilometre stretch of track in Vasai to widespread construction on salt pan lands in Vasai East and encroachments on mangroves and waterholes in Nalasopara and Virar. The overflow from the Pelhar dam, a local check dam, compounded the problem by allowing stored rainwater to spill onto the tracks.
The disruptions on Tuesday and Wednesday morning resulted in multiple train cancellations and delays. “Water from the check dam flowed directly through the city onto the rail lines,” said a senior WR official. “Previously, salt pans and green areas prevented soil erosion and stopped water from reaching the tracks. Widening drains and micro-tunnelling proved ineffective because the road and track levels are the same, leaving no protection against flowing water.”
At the site, railway engineers reported that 104 points and 10–12 signal poles were affected along the stretch from Vasai station to Virar. Points, which allow trains to switch tracks, had to be manually locked in knee-deep water by staff, a process taking 30 to 45 minutes per point.
WR sources pointed to unplanned construction, debris dumping, and encroachment as key causes of clogged culverts and severe waterlogging, with levels reaching over four feet in areas including Viva College Campus, Sainath Nagar, Bolinj, Global City, Gokul Township, Nandakhal, Waliv, and Sativali. Residents reported water entering the first floors of housing complexes and submerging vehicles.
Social activist Dhananjay Gawde said the flooding was driven by topography and illegal construction on natural waterholes, noting that the drainage system cannot handle rainfall exceeding 100 mm, while the area received over 150 mm.
Environmentalists have long warned of the loss of water-holding ponds and reclaimed salt pans. Sameer Vartak highlighted that despite previous plans by the Vasai Virar City Municipal Corporation (VVCMC) to reconstruct ponds, development continued unchecked, worsening waterlogging.
Manoj Suryavanshi, VVCMC commissioner, confirmed that a team has been set up to survey flood-prone areas and identify solutions. “We will take the necessary steps to address these issues,” he said, signalling efforts to prevent future flooding in the rapidly urbanising region.
Source: Hindustan Times
