In a preliminary report, IIT Bombay has suggested creating 'holding ponds' in Kurla LTT and Dadar-Lower Parel areas to avoid flooding on the tracks.
However, the final report is yet to be submitted.
''In its preliminary report, two ponds for holding rainwater -- one of 6,000 sq metres and the other of 3000 sq metres, both with depth of 3 metres each, have been proposed for Dadar-Lower Parel area.
Similarly, two ponds – one of 16,000 sq metres and the other of 36,000 square metres – have been proposed for the Kurla- LTT area of Central Railway, said officials.
Apart from this, for long-term solution, the creation of another holding pond of 17000 sq metres has been suggested in the Dadar-Lower Parel section.
All these ponds will be underground and the construction work will cause least disruption to railway operations.
Confirming the development, a senior officer of CR said these ponds will able to hold rainwater for 4 to 5 hours (approximately 50 to 60 mm per hour).
The Dadar-Lower Parel area of WR and Kurla-LTT area of CR were most affected during the last monsoon. Hence both locations were selected as a pilot project for the study.
In June 2021, during a review meeting, then Railway Minister Piyush Goyal had advised the Railways to partner with institutions like IIT Bombay to study the efficiency of technical and civil work initiatives in handling monsoon rain.
The Railways then assigned the task to Mumbai Rail Vikas Corporation. The MRVC, in turn, roped in IIT Bombay to study location-wise causes of flooding and suggest solutions. For this study, IIT Bombay will be paid around Rs 40 lakhs by the Railways.
