Mumbai prepared for another deluge? Residents say yes

IN TROUBLED WATERS: Milan subway is the first spot in the city to get flooded every monsoon.

    

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Keywords: Floods, Mumbai

Mumbai: Smashed windshields, dented bumpers and crawling traffic – that's how Mumbai motorists greeted pre-monsoon showers earlier this week.

So while monsoons are still a week away, Mumbaikars have already started questioning the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation's (BMC) preparedness this year.

And many like 42-year-old Jameel, who owns a marble shop near the infamous Milan subway, is apprehensive and says, “The Government claims to spend money on improving the condition in this area every year. I am yet to see any change!"

Milan subway is the first spot in the city to get flooded every monsoon mainly due to inadequate drainage facilities, but after spending Rs 82 crore on drainage upgaradation work and widening and deepening the Mithi river, the BMC claims it is confident and prepared.

“Every year there's improvement. We have spent more money and work has also been done, but every year is a new challenge,” says BMC chief J M Phatak.

Meanwhile, the Railways, too, have a plan of action for the monsoons.

“We have spent Rs 48 lakh to clean up 43 culverts and have built a 25-kilometer-long concrete walled drain to prevent flooding,” Divisional Manager for Western Railway, Satyprakash said.

But problems could get compounded this monsoon as large sections of key roads and highways are dug up for construction work related to the Mumbai Metro and various flyovers.

(With inputs from Bansi Mehta and Krutika Chaturvedi)