Mumbai: After incidents of water logging at some spots that disrupted railway services, the BMC has initiated efforts to address the issue ahead of the monsoon. The BMC will be installing additional dewatering pumps at key flood-prone locations. The pumps will feature IoT-based sensors for real-time monitoring, allowing the Disaster Management Control Room to track their status instantly and ensure quicker and efficient response.

In July 2024, several new flooding spots were identified, leading to significant water accumulation on railway tracks in the eastern suburbs, causing major disruptions to train services. One of the primary spots was located in Mankhurd.

To address the issue, the BMC has proposed a Mini Pumping Station within the railway premises. The plan includes a storage tank and three high-capacity pumps, each with a capacity of 3,000 cubic metre per hour. The tendering process is currently underway, and roadwork is expected to be completed before the monsoon.

"Rainwater accumulating at the underpass will be diverted 800 meters westward through a pipeline into the creek. Additionally, the nala near Maharashtra Nagar will be deepened and widened to prevent flooding. The survey and tender process will be completed before the monsoon, with work starting on October 1 and finishing by the next monsoon,” said an official from the Storm Water Drain department.

To address chronic waterlogging spot in the Shell Colony and Tembe Bridge area of Chembur, the BMC has developed a comprehensive plan. "Every monsoon, overflowing drains contribute to water accumulation, which will now be managed by diverting rainwater into the sewage system using pumps, along with a dedicated storm water drain," he added.

In addition, the BMC will expand the capacity of the narrow drains near Tembe Bridge and install additional high-capacity pumps to effectively handle flooding during this monsoon season.

The Chandrodya Society in Kurla West, which has faced increased waterlogging due to metro work, had its stormwater drain obstructed by a metro pillar. "The intensity of water accumulation has increased in the past two years due to ongoing metro work in the area. To address this, a new parallel stormwater drain has been constructed alongside the old one, ensuring minimal disruption to the drainage system," added an official.

In Hindmata at Dadar, a storage tank has reduced water accumulation. The BMC will be installing flow meters on the tank to monitor pumping rates and ensure uniform pump capacity across all seven pumps for better efficiency in flood control operations.

According to civic data, a total of 453 flood-prone spots were identified, of which 369 have already been addressed. The remaining 55 flood-prone areas will be tackled in a phased manner, with work set to begin in 2025 and continue through 2026.