Mumbai: To ensure smooth and uninterrupted operations of trains during the upcoming monsoon season, the Western Railway pre-monsoon preparations are on in full swing. In view of the previous monsoon issues in the Vasai-Virar sector among other areas, additional steps have been taken to ensure smooth traffic movement during the rainy season. Ravinder Bhakar, chief PRO, WR, said the works include cleaning and desilting of culverts, desilting of side-drains, installations of high-power diesel and electric pumps, special maintenance of infrastructure. “The work will be completed in two phases. First phase will be over by June 1. We will start with cleaning culverts and drain in second phase,” said Bhakar.
The WR has identified flood-prone areas on its suburban section. As per an analysis, special attention will be given to sections, which are potentially low-lying areas, and are thus likely to be inundated. The areas have been identified as tracks/yards of Grant Road, Elphinstone Road, Dadar, Matunga Road-Mahim, Bandra-Khar, Andheri-Jogeshwari and Vasai-Virar sections. “We have also compiled the data from time-table wherein dates of over 4m high tides during the monsoon between June 1 and Sept 30 have been included. It will help us take precautions as and when required,” added Bhakar.
Sunil Udasi, chief PRO, CR said they started preparatory work for monsoon from Feb-March. So far, they have cleaned 79 culverts. An additional opening at Tilaknagar has been provided to stop flooding in Kurla. “We have identified 25 spots. We have requested BMC to provide pumps with a draining capacity of 1,000 cubic metres per hour at Kurla and Mukhyaadhyapak nullah at Sion,” he said. Udasi said BMC has assured the railways it would take action to ensure water from civic areas was not discharged onto railway territory, especially near Sandhurst Road station.
