BMC, Railways start reviewing pre-monsoon work on CR, WR for disruption free services
BMC chief Ajoy Mehta inspecting pre-monsoon work on Harbour Line. (Representational Image, Courtesy: Rajendra B. Aklekar)
The civic chief, along with general managers of Central and Western Railways, have started reviewing the pre-monsoon work undertaken to ensure that heavy rains do not bring Mumbai’s lifeline to a standstill during monsoon.
According to officials, the works involves cleaning of drains and culverts that run beneath the rail tracks, removal of muck, trimming of branches of trees, surveying hilly areas for loose boulders and provision to drain out excess water from low-lying rail areas in case of heavy monsoon rains.
“The Brihanmumbai Municipal Commissioner and GMs of WR and CR have reviewed monsoon preparedness works. The civic chief has promised all help to the railways to ensure that heavy monsoons do not disrupt train traffic,” a senior civic official told PTI.
Chief spokesperson of CR, Sunil Udasi, said, “The preparatory work for monsoon started from February-March 2018. We have cleaned 79 culverts. An additional opening at Tilaknagar has been provided to curb flooding in Kurla area.”
Udasi added that 25 spots on the CR’s Mumbai division have been identified for immediate action.
“We have also requested the BMC to provide pumps that have a water-draining capacity of 1,000 cubic metres per hour at Kurla and Mukhyaadhyapak nullah at Sion,” he said.
The BMC has assured railways that it would take action to ensure water from civic areas does not get discharged onto railway premises.
“The BMC has also promised that it will get one building, deemed unsafe, at Sandhurst Road station vacated before the arrival of the monsoon,” Udasi said.
As for WR, its chief spokesperson Ravinder Bhakar stated that general manager AK Gupta had met civic chief Ajoy Mehta to discuss works like cleaning of stormwater drains, clearing of dumped garbage, shifting of overhead pipelines and other issues.
Shri A K Gupta, @Gmwrly had a meeting with Shri Ajoy Mehta, Commissioner, @MCGM_BMC at WR HQs for better coordination between #WR & MCGM on various issues including monsoon preparations, FOB connectivity & their maintenance etc. Sr Officers were also present in the meeting. pic.twitter.com/KbVnOofgfa
— Western Railway (@WesternRly) April 18, 2018
