Mumbai: Rail contractor damages water pipeline at Mulund

The BMC water pipeline that was damaged on Monday

Already reeling under water cuts, sufferings of the residents of Mulund west aggravated after a water pipeline was ruptured during the digging work undertaken at Mulund station. The work was being carried out for laying the foundation of a new foot over bridge near platform one at Mulund railway station. The damage to the pipeline affected the water supply to the residents of Mulund West. Railway officials said lack of proper mapping of utilities had led to the confusion.

"We in Mulund have already been suffering due to two days of water cuts due to diversion work of the pipeline for the new Goregaon-Mulund Link Road. In addition to this, there are five and ten percent water cuts to come into effect from May 30 to June 5. The water cut due to the railway work was unnecessary and caused a lot of inconvenience to residents," said Kewal Thakur, a local resident. The digging work near platform one at Mulund station had ruptured a 250-mm diameter water pipeline of the BMC.

"The emergency work of attending heavy leakage on the 250 mm diameter water main caused due to puncture of the pipe during piling work of railway near platform 1 at Mulund station is being carried out. Hence, water supply of Mulund west had been hampered and was restored after completion of the work," an official from the BMC T Ward's assistant engineer water works said.

Mumbai Rail Vikas Corporation (MRVC) is building a new east-west foot over bridge at the south end of the station. Senior railway officials had rushed to the site and repair work was being done in close coordination with BMC officials.