Mumbai: Two years later, Mogra pumping station still a no show

Andheri subway gets flooded every monsoon

The BMC implemented various measures including holding tanks and mini pumping stations to give relief to chronic flood spots like Milan Subway, Hindmata and Gandhi Market. But the work at the Mogra pumping station, which will be helpful for Andheri and Versova areas has been halted for the past two years due to a legal battle.

To be built at a cost of Rs 393 crore, the BMC administration finalised contractors M/s Michigan Engineers and M/s Mhalsa Construction (joint) for construction of the pumping station in June 2021. Earlier, the pumping station was going to be constructed at another spot. "The BMC had decided to change the site of the pumping station to save the cost and land acquisition issue but then another legal battle started for the new site. The court gave the nod to go ahead only with paper work," said a BMC official.

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This year, in the budget speech of 2023-24, the civic chief IS Chahal mentioned that due to legal issues in land acquisition, the work at Mogra pumping station has been delayed. Presently, part work order is issued for carrying out miscellaneous works.

Now, the BMC has considered another option of setting up a mini-pumping station on the eastern side of the Andheri station where the maximum proportion of water gets accumulated. The water will be pumped out and discharged into a Mogra nullah. The work of widening and diversion of Mogra nullah is also planned. The work is worth R100 crore and will need at least two years for completion.