Mumbai: BMC gives CR Rs 58 cr to widen clogged drains near Sion, Kurla stations

Railway tracks at Sion station were submerged in last year's deluge

Following last year's deluge, which led to disruption of train services on the Central Railway and Harbour Line, the BMC has taken up widening and improvement of seven drains passing through tracks between the Kurla-Turbhe refinery rail line.

The BMC along with the Central Railway has worked out a plan, and will be collectively spending Rs 58.17 crore on widening and improvement of these drains. The proposal for the project was passed in the Standing Committee meeting of the BMC on Wednesday.

Heavy rainfall on August 29 last year had disrupted services for more than 12 hours due to flooding on tracks near Sion and Kurla. As rainwater wasn't receding properly, it took a long time than usual to clear the tracks. Confirming the development, a senior BMC official from the Storm Water Drainage (SWD) department of the BMC, said, "There are a total of 11 drains passing through railway tracks of Kurla-Turbhe refinery, of which seven will be widened. We will be giving the Railways R58 crore to execute the work as they have better knowledge and expertise in overhauling drains below the tracks."

The official added, "The current situation of these drains is bad. The problem worsens during heavy rainfall, with areas like Chunabhatti, Nehru Nagar in Kurla and Wadala getting flooded."

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