Mumbai: CR to seal illegal drainage coming on track using iron sheets

Mumbai: To prevent the repeated incidents of breaking boundary walls and illegal opening of drainage on the track near Sindhi Society, Sion, the Central Railway (CR) has decided to use iron sheets between the concrete to seal the 'illegal opening' of drainage on the track. The opening of drainage can lead to water logging on tracks during Monsoon.

“During the monsoon preparation works, all the holes and illegal drainages on the track were closed with concrete at over dozens of locations near Sion station. The local residents breached the boundary walls and further opened drainages illegally, leading to waterlogging,” alleged a CR official, adding the works of re-closing of broken boundary walls and drainage has started and is likely to be complete within 10-12 days.

A CR official said that boundary walls have been constructed on both sides of the railway track to prevent rainwater from flowing on the tracks.

Incidents of breaching the boundary walls and opening of drainages on the track near Sindhi Society were reported in the last week of June.

Officials added, that if someone is found breaking boundary walls or opening drainages will be prosecuted under relevant sections of the Railway Act.

The offence under section 147 of the Railway Act, has the provision of imprisonment to six months, or with a fine which may extend to Rs 1, 000 or both.

Similarly, section 145 of the Railway Act, carries a provision of a fine of Rs 100 for the first offence; imprisonment of one month, and a fine of Rs 250 for the second offence.

However, residents of Sindhi Society claimed that it was a decades-old way of releasing stormwater, but no one is ready to speak on the record. On the other hand, the railway says that the opening of drainage on the track is prohibited under Railway Act as it could lead to flooding on the tracks.