Mumbai rains: Railways on fast track to halt flooding

The flooding of railway tracks during the monsoon months in Mumbai could be a thing of the past as a networkwide comprehensive master plan is being developed keeping in mind the cityrsquos geography to tackle waterlogging decisively The Mumbai Railway Vikas Corporation MRVC as first revealed to midday has initiated this study on flood assessment and mitigation measuresThis involves exploring the Japanese model of underground holding ponds such as 70metretall underground floodwater cathedrals that comprise Tokyorsquos Metropolitan Area Outer Underground Discharge Channel MAOUDC an engineering marvel completed in 2006 after 13 years of construction Such flood ponds could store water during high tide preventing waterlogging once and for all midday had first highlighted the issue in a frontpage report in its April 3 2025 editionA severely waterlogged Curry Road railway station on June 16 2013 File PicAtul KambleWhy flooding occursThe geographical location of Mumbai is such that it is flanked by the Arabian Sea and the Thane Creek The western and eastern side suburban rail networks are located along the periphery thus causing rainwater to pass through outlets below railway tracks before entering the sea or creek Blockages and silting of the railwayrsquos bridges and culverts have considerably reduced their ability to drain water Plastic garbage and other litter find their way into these waterways Though annual exercise of cleaning of cross drains is undertaken before the monsoon season it is not feasible at all times due to site constraintsThe constraintsThe drainage network of Mumbai is about a century old with a design suitable for optimum drainage at rainfall up to 25 mm per hour at low tide Thus any rainfall of higher intensity for a prolonged duration or rainfall coinciding with high tide eventually results in water stagnating affecting train operations A total of 2400 mm of rainfall is recorded on an average during the monsoon period from June to September out of which about 1400 mm is recorded only during June and July High rainfall measuring about 300 mm a day is quite common with a high likelihood of rainfall exceeding the threshold limit of 25 mm per hour at high tide on several occasions during the monsoon seasonThe studyThe researchers plan to study suitable floodcontrol measures as well as stormwater drains railway bridges culverts sewerage disposal systems pumping systems cross sectionsgradients of existing drainage systems locations of litter and debris along railway tracks as well as carry out a detailed topographic survey drone survey and flooding simulationsBesides identifying deficiencies in the existing drainage system based on flooding simulations the study proposes to prepare potential solutions on works needed to improve the drainage for increasing flow capacity of existing cross drainsproviding new culverts assessment of pumping arrangements design of sewerage connections and feasibility for raising level of existing tracksldquoOne of the key mitigation measures proposed in an IIT Bombay pilot study is also the construction of an underground regulating reservoir similar to those implemented in Tokyo Japan But with a cautionary note to look at all possibilities and suggest if there is a better solution that is proven anywhere else in the worldrdquo an official saidGeographical issuesldquoAs Mumbai is affected by tidal water being close to the seashore if there is heavy rain during high tide rainwater gets accumulated above the tide level If underground reservoirs or bypasses are constructed they can be used as holding pondsregulatory water reservoirs or flood diversion and stored floodwater will be pumped out at low tide or diverted to lowrisk areas The study will identify and suggest open spaces owned by Indian Railways the state government or BMC Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation in the adjoining areas of floodprone locations for the construction of underground regulating reservoirs and study the potential of an underground bypass and propose the alignment and other technical detailsrdquo he added The study also includes a risk management and emergency action plan till permanent measures are put in placeExpert SpeakJagdeep DesaiArchitect academician founder trustee and chairperson of Forum for Improving Quality of Life in MumbailsquoThe principle is fine Excavating such large tanks means a huge quantity of earth and mud will be dug up Where will this be dumped Plus a lot of construction is required which is timeconsuming and expensive How will collected rainwater be removed before the next deluge Instead maybe create hundreds or thousands of appropriately planned deep discharge pits which will allow water to permeate into the ground and will also revive groundwater We need to consider our monsoon rain quantity and intensityrsquoAV Shenoy Member Mumbai Vikas Samiti and Mumbai Mobility ForumlsquoBMC has already implemented it successfully at Kingrsquos Circle and Hindmata Railways should take up this work as it is clear that Metros have not been successful in reducing the load of suburban railwaysrsquoFlooding locations on WR and CR lines that have been listed for studyWestern Railway1 Churchgate Marine Lines2 Grant Road South end local line3 Charni Road Mumbai Central4 Elphinstone Road Dadar5 Dadar Mahim6 Mahim Bandra Harbour line7 Bandra Khar8 Andheri Yard north end9 Andheri Jogeshwari Harbour line10 Jogeshwari Terminus Nestle siding11 Goregaon Yard east side12 Goregaon Malad13 Malad Kandivli14 Borivli yard15 Naigaon Vasai16 VasaiNalasopara17 Nalasopara VirarCentral Railway1 Dockyard Cotton Green 319 402 SewriWadala 810 8303 WadalaRavli 918 9204 GTB Nagar Chunabhatti including station platform 132 1345 CSMT Masjid 0800 11006 CSMT Masjid 18 1207 Sandhurst Road Byculla including Mazagaon yard 20 248 Sandhurst Road Byculla 216 2209 Mazgaon Byculla 316 ndash 32010 Byculla yard 47 5011 Chinchpokli Currey Road 516 6112 Currey Road Parel 79 71313 ParelDadar 81 8414 Matunga workshop 920 101515 Matunga Sion125 13016 Matunga Sion 136 13817 Sion Kurla 140 15018 Kurla Trombay 150 160419 Sion Kurla 15100 1540020 Trombay yard 1905 191921 Kurla Vidyavihar including Kurla carshed 164 17022 LTT yard 16900 1720023 Vidyavihar Ghatkopar 17600 1790024 Ghatkopar Vikhroli 19800 2020025 Vikhroli Kanjurmarg 237 24726 Kanjurmarg Bhandup 255 25727 Kanjur Marg Bhandup 265 26828 Nanepada culvert and Mulund platform 1 295 30129 Mulund Thane including Thane Station 328 331230 Kalwa station 356 36131 Kalwa Mumbra 377 371032 Airoli Thane 3823 382533 Rabale Airoli 4111 411334 Ghansoli 4332 433435 Turbhe yard 47600 4780036 Dombivli Thakurli 4830 483237 Kurla Tilak Nagar 160 16238 Chembur Govandi 175 17839 Mankhurd Vashi 213 218