Fresh water seepage was reported in the northbound tunnel of the Mumbai Coastal Road on Sunday following heavy monsoon rainfall, prompting the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) to undertake immediate repair work. Civic officials, however, maintained that the tunnel remains structurally safe and that the leakage posed no risk to motorists.
The seepage was noticed near Priyadarshini Park in the northbound tunnel, which connects Marine Drive to Bandra. Commuters travelling through the tunnel observed water dripping from a section of the wall and alerted the authorities.
BMC maintenance teams reached the location soon after the incident was reported and carried out emergency repairs. According to officials, the leakage was sealed within a few hours using pressure injection grouting, a waterproofing technique commonly used for underground structures. Traffic movement through the tunnel continued uninterrupted during the repair work.
The civic body attributed the seepage to increased hydrostatic pressure caused by continuous heavy rainfall over the past few days. Officials clarified that such seepage can occur in underground infrastructure during periods of intense rainfall and stressed that it did not indicate any structural weakness in the tunnel.
This is the second reported instance of water seepage since the Coastal Road tunnel was opened to traffic. The latest incident comes as Mumbai continues to witness heavy monsoon showers, which have affected several infrastructure projects and transport corridors across the city.
The Mumbai Coastal Road, one of the city’s key infrastructure projects, has significantly reduced travel time between South Mumbai and the western suburbs since its opening. BMC officials said routine inspections and maintenance of the tunnel are being carried out regularly, particularly during the monsoon season, to ensure commuter safety.
The civic body reiterated that the tunnel remains safe for public use and said it will continue to closely monitor the structure while undertaking preventive maintenance measures whenever required during the ongoing monsoon.
Source: The Indian Express
