Flood, Potholes & Total Chaos Show How Unprepared Mumbai Authorities Were For The Monsoon

Life in Mumbai has come to a virtual standstill for the past couple of days. It is expected to remain the same at least for a few more days before the rains subside and the situation gets normalized.?

As of now, life in the financial capital of one of the biggest economies in the world has been crippled. While the heavy rains said to be the second highest 24-hour rain Mumbai has experienced since 1975 is one of the reasons for the flooding and waterlogging there is no doubt that the complacency of the local bodies has added to it.

BCCL

Like every year, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) had claimed that it was 'Monsoon ready' and that drainages have been cleaned and potholes have been filled well ahead of the rains.

The BMC, which presented a budget of Rs 30,692.59 crore earlier this year had allocated a total of Rs 11,480.42 crore to upgrade of the maximum city's infrastructure facilities such as solid waste management, water supply projects, stormwater drains, bridges, and roads.

BCCL

But, it is back to the same old story once again. With just four days of rains, Mumbai is on its knees -? with vehicular traffic, train and flight operations coming to a virtual standstill, thanks to the waterlogging on roads, railway tracks, and airport.?

It should not come as a total surprise as BMC itself had almost admitted that this could happen.?

"We have done work this time. There are pumping stations being placed. But there still is a fear that if it rains more than 300 mm a day, there could be waterlogging," Mumbai Mayor Vishwanath Mahadeshwar had recently stated.

BCCL

According to BMC, it had de-silted around 44,946 tonne of the total 90,426 tonne from various drains.?

The situation of the roads is no different. As of May filling of potholes of only 188 out of the 508 roads were completed.

Even the Railways failed in its monsoon preparedness this year. Ahead of the monsoons, the railways had claimed that they had improved their infrastructure by raising tracks at vulnerable points, repaired overhead equipment and fixed train coaches to prepare for the rains.?

Another major reason this year is the metro construction which is currently underway in areas like Goregaon, Chembur, Malad, etc.

The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) had earlier claimed that it had a team of 75 engineers,150 labourers, and 30 high-capacity de-watering pumps to take care of monsoon-related issues.