Mumbai: As a part of monsoon preparedness, Mumbai Traffic Police have put a proper protocol in place with identification of flooding spots in the city as well as deploying the first aid measures in cases of emergencies in monsoon.
Taking note of the previous instances of waterlogging and flooding, traffic cops have identified 215 locations in 34 traffic divisions in the city, leading to 145 traffic diversions made well in advance.
Moreover, this time the police have stepped up their game and prepared a time table from June to September, identifying 29 days and its timings, which would probably see a high tide.
The Mumbai Traffic Police (MTP) have prepared a dossier of identifying 215 spots in the city which could become a flooding spot in the upcoming monsoon. Some of these fall in the traffic division of Byculla, Colaba, Bandra-Kurla Complex (BKC), Santacruz, Sahar, Malad and Pydhonie.
Not just identification, but police have also taken pre-emptive measures like deploying towing vehicles, keeping in tow private boats, tied up with companies providing JCB machines. So much so, over 167 swimmers have also been tied up with the Mumbai Traffic Police.
In addition to just flooding spots, MTP has also identified eleven possible landslide spots and asked the civic body to install safety nets to as a precautionary measure.
For the first time, MTP has also consulted with the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) and made a list of 29 days across the four months of monsoon.
Similarly, police will also be putting up messages on the virtual message boards to make people aware about the days of high tides as well as give the details to various cable operators to broadcast the message.
Shahaji Umap, deputy commissioner of police (traffic headquarters) said, “This time around, we have taken extreme pre-emptive measures to keep the city safe.
After identifying the flooding spots, 145 traffic diversions have already been put in place across 34 traffic divisions in the city. The most number of traffic diversions made in the city would be in Bandra, as all roads, right from SV Road to Link Road would be affected in case of a heavy downpour.” Traffic police have also tied up with various agencies like civic hospitals, ambulances, fire officials to be well prepared to help in such situations.
