Mumbai Local News: All monsoon works completed within the target date, says WR

Western Railways (WR) has undertaken various monsoon preparatory works on mission mode along with proper upkeep and maintenance of the mechanical, signalling, electrical assets & equipment, etc. Railway has ensured that all works has been completed in time to ensure smooth and disruption-free services during the monsoons across Mumbai.

According to an official statement released by Sumit Thakur, Chief Public Relations Officer of Western Railway, to ensure uninterrupted services during the ensuing monsoon, targets were followed meticulously and WR completed the works before time. The meticulous planning & execution of work has yielded positive results and WR has been able to run the train services with minimum disruptions, in spite of heavy rains. Works such as cleaning and de-silting of culverts, nullahs & drains, clearing the muck & garbage along the tracks, construction of additional waterways, installations of high-power pumps, trimming trees, etc. were completed o­n a mission mode.

Giving further details, Thakur stated that various measures taken for ensuring uninterrupted services are as under.

• Muck removal of 1.60 lakh cubic meters completed at 28 identified locations. The work was carried out by deploying specially designed Muck special trains, BRNs, JCB, Poclain, etc.
• Additional waterways constructed by micro tunneling at Vasai Yard, Nalasopara and Bandra – Khar section.
• WR has completed the cleaning of 55 culverts & 50 km of drains has been de-silted and cleaned. Also, the flow pattern of water in Yards were studied and new drains & manholes have been constructed for facilitating smooth discharge of water.
• Drone survey of 23 locations was carried out for monitoring, cleaning & identification of choke points in culverts and nallahs
• Various locations vulnerable to water logging during heavy rains have been identified and 204 high-capacity water pumps installed at these flood prone locations. It is a 14% increase over last year, in number of pumps provided o­n tracks and depots including sewerage and submersible pumps.
• Flood gauges have been provided at 36 locations.
• Work of trimming more than 2300 trees and cutting of 20 vulnerable trees completed.
• All EMU rakes were inspected & attended for monsoon precautions work.

Thakur also mentioned that based o­n the experience of previous monsoons, flood-prone areas in railway premises were identified and various works precautionary work has been completed at these locations. To monitor the condition of tracks, Monsoon Patrolling is done by 11 patrolman & 8 Bridge guards. 

A 15-member RPF Flood Rescue Team with rescue boats and allied equipment has been formed in collaboration with NDRF. During monsoon and other weather alerts, it is ensured to keep close coordination with the Disaster Management cell of BMC. Special timetable o­n high tide and heavy rainfall days has been adopted. WR is also in close coordination with various Municipal Bodies for arranging local transport for quick disbursal of passengers.

Western Railway is ensuring continuous monitoring and all efforts are being taken for maintaining disruption free travel to commuters.