The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) is purchasing four emergency flood rescue trucks to handle waterlogging during the monsoon season. Each vehicle will cost INR 2.19 crore. The trucks will also be used for drain cleaning when there is no flooding. The civic body plans to deploy them before the monsoon of 2025.
Although BMC already has equipment like suction pumps, jetting machines, and quick response machines, the new trucks are claimed to be necessary. Many areas that did not face waterlogging are now experiencing flooding. This is because of heavy rainfall and infrastructure projects. The new vehicles will be deployed in such areas.
Two of the four trucks will operate in the island city. The remaining two will be stationed in the eastern and western suburbs. These trucks will be sent wherever water-logging complaints are received. They will be equipped with suction and jetting machines, dewatering pumps, and pipes. This will allow them to remove water quickly.
Unlike old machines, these trucks will not require towing. The equipment will be mounted on the trucks, and their engines will power the pumps. This will help reduce delays in flood response. During the dry months from October to May, they will be used for drain cleaning instead of flood management.
The civic body has already placed work orders for the trucks and additional machines. These machines will recycle the silt-mixed water removed from drains. The BMC's 2025-26 budget includes INR 2,200 crore for stormwater drain management. The vehicles are expected to be delivered before June.
According to BMC data, 369 out of 453 identified flooding spots have been addressed. The goal is to resolve 55 more before the 2025 monsoon.
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