Mumbai Rains: BMC To Undertake Widening Drains Project At Andheri Subway

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) on Tuesday, August 9, announced to undertaken a project of widening drains at Andheri subway.

Earlier in the day, waterlogging was witnessed owing to heavy showers causing traffic disruption in several parts of the city including Andheri subway. Moreover, it is a well-known fact that every year during monsoon, the area is clogged under water. Similarly, this year the BMC had to close the Andheri subway for vehicular movement on several occasions due to water logging.

Meanwhile, it has also come to light that the BMC floated tenders worth INR 100 crores for three works. As per the tender, the BMC will widen Mogra Nalla from SV Road to Veera Desai Road (INR 34.22 crores) and divert Mogra Nalla from south side of Bhardawadi culvert on JP road to DN Nagar metro station till Crystal Point mall (INR 33.38 crores). Another work of diversion of the nalla at Veera Desai road to the Courtyard junction to RTO junction till City Mall (INR 36.21 crore) will be also taken up.

Therefore, the decision has been taken to provide relief to the commuters from the flooding spot. The estimated cost of this project is INR 100 crores; besides, it will take 18 months to complete.

After the floods in 2005, the civic body constructed pumping stations at eight locations to prevent floods. Accordingly, the pumping station of Mogra Nala would have provided relief in areas like Andheri, Versova, Jogeshwari and Oshiwara, which are waterlogged during monsoon. However, the project has not been implemented so far.

Meanwhile, it is pertinent to note that Mumbai received its heaviest rain on Monday night in three weeks, with the India Meteorological Department (IMD) weather station in Santacruz recording 123.6 mm rainfall in 24 hours.

It is not unknown that there are many such chronic spots in the city which submerge in water after a heavy spell.

The BMC is adamant to find a local solution to such problems. After Hindmata, Gandhi Market and Milan subways, the corporation has been focusing on the Andheri subway, where at least six water pumps are stationed to drain out water. Despite that, the subway closes to traffic during rainfall.