BMC builds storm drains by Haji Ali underpass to prevent flooding

17 Apr 2024 CW Team

It was reported that the PUP of the Mumbai Coastal Road Project (MCRP) had been flooded on Wednesday afternoon during high tide. Upon this occurrence, the civic officials at the site promptly closed the gates of the PUPs, and the shrine was also closed between 11:45 am and 2:30 pm. However, the water levels receded after 3 pm. Mohammed Ahmed Taher, the administrative officer of the Haji Ali Dargah Trust, mentioned that there used to be a pathway where seawater would drain naturally once it entered. With the construction of PUPs, the concern was raised about the direction of the water flow. Taher expressed his opinion that stormwater drains should have been constructed prior to the coastal roads to mitigate flooding issues, especially during the monsoon season.

Environmental activist Zoru Bhathena expressed surprise at the BMC's oversight in designing a pedestrian underpass without considering tide levels, leading to visible consequences. The coastal road features approximately 20 PUPs that offer pedestrian access to various areas. Before the construction of the coastal road, the pathway frequently flooded during high tide, hindering the movement of devotees, according to sources.

The civic official in charge of the coastal road project assured that measures would be implemented to prevent waterlogging during the monsoon. Plans included installing a line parallel to the coastal road at the Haji Ali outfall, along with a pumping facility, and ongoing construction of stormwater drains. Meanwhile, a photograph depicting a crack on the tunnel exit ramp of a coastal road circulated widely on social media. However, civic officials clarified that these were not structural cracks and that the minor hairline cracks had already been filled with epoxy mortar.

The BMC announced that they had begun construction on the main stormwater drains near the Haji Ali Coastal Road's pedestrian underpass (PUP) in order to prevent seawater from entering during high tide. It was stated by civic officials on Thursday that a catchment tank would be installed to collect the excess seawater and direct it out through outlets. It was reported that the PUP of the Mumbai Coastal Road Project (MCRP) had been flooded on Wednesday afternoon during high tide. Upon this occurrence, the civic officials at the site promptly closed the gates of the PUPs, and the shrine was also closed between 11:45 am and 2:30 pm. However, the water levels receded after 3 pm. Mohammed Ahmed Taher, the administrative officer of the Haji Ali Dargah Trust, mentioned that there used to be a pathway where seawater would drain naturally once it entered. With the construction of PUPs, the concern was raised about the direction of the water flow. Taher expressed his opinion that stormwater drains should have been constructed prior to the coastal roads to mitigate flooding issues, especially during the monsoon season. Environmental activist Zoru Bhathena expressed surprise at the BMC's oversight in designing a pedestrian underpass without considering tide levels, leading to visible consequences. The coastal road features approximately 20 PUPs that offer pedestrian access to various areas. Before the construction of the coastal road, the pathway frequently flooded during high tide, hindering the movement of devotees, according to sources. The civic official in charge of the coastal road project assured that measures would be implemented to prevent waterlogging during the monsoon. Plans included installing a line parallel to the coastal road at the Haji Ali outfall, along with a pumping facility, and ongoing construction of stormwater drains. Meanwhile, a photograph depicting a crack on the tunnel exit ramp of a coastal road circulated widely on social media. However, civic officials clarified that these were not structural cracks and that the minor hairline cracks had already been filled with epoxy mortar.