After mid-day reported that rainwater leaking from the gaps between girders was inconveniencing motorists below the Metro corridor, the agency has asked MMOPL to solve the problem at the earliest
Taking serious note of a report published in mid-day about rainwater leaking onto the road passing below the 11.04 km Versova-Andheri-Ghatkopar (VAG) Metro corridor, the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) has written a letter to Mumbai Metro One Private Limited (MMOPL), asking Mumbai Metro One Pvt Ltd (MMOPL) to solve the problem at the earliest.
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When it rains heavily, water flows down in full force from the gaps between the girders. File pic
This paper had reported about the leakage from the gaps between the girders of the Metro corridor (‘Get drenched in the Metro and below it, June 4), from where rainwater falls in full force during heavy showers. This was observed near WEH, Andheri and Azad Nagar stations.
mid-day’s report on July 4
The letter, dated July 8, says that in a July 4 meeting convened by the additional municipal commissioner to discuss the issues on the VAG Metro corridor, which was also attended by MMRDA officials, one of the points was the rainwater leakage from the gaps between girders. This was seen as a source of inconvenience to people below and also as a potential cause of accidents.
The letter further states that the additional commissioner has directed the MMOPL to take measures to connect the rainwater pipes from the viaduct and stations to storm water drains. It also references a visit made by the additional commissioner on June 25 in the presence of the MMOPL head and civil works engineers.
“MMRDA has repeatedly asked MMOPL, in meetings and through various correspondences, to connect pipes on the Metro corridor to the storm water drains. However, no action was taken,” said the letter. In order to release water into the drains, however, the BMC needs to give permission, as it comes under their jurisdiction, and different drains have different capacities.
Towards the end, the letter sternly asks MMOPL to take action and adds that MMRDA will not be responsible if the BMC initiates action against it, under the MMC/MRTP Act, for failure to comply with norms. Metropolitan Commissioner U P S Madan said, “We have asked the BMC to send a notice to MMOPL if the work of connecting rainwater pipes with the drains is not done. If MMOPL fails to do this, we will do it and charge MMOPL.”