Western Railway’s Monsoon Readiness Keeps Mumbai Suburban Trains Running Smoothly Amid Monsoon Mayhem
As Mumbai was battered by heavy rainfall on May 26, resulting in widespread waterlogging and bringing road traffic to a near halt, the city’s suburban railway network under the Western Railway (WR) continued to operate seamlessly, thanks to exceptional pre-monsoon planning and crisis management by the Mumbai Division of WR(BCT).
“This performance is not a coincidence,” said Vineet Abhishek, Chief Public Relations Officer of WR. “It is the result of meticulous planning and sustained hard work over the past five years.”
“The unwavering dedication of our Permanent Way staff and coordinated efforts with municipal bodies like the MCGM ensured commuter safety and the continuity of service when the city needed it most,” Vineet Abhishek further added.
Ahead of the monsoon season, WR undertook extensive infrastructure upgrades. "Key initiatives included the construction of over 3.5 km of new drainage lines, 2 km of protective walls, and the application of advanced micro-tunneling technology at more than 15 flood-prone locations. The railway also installed 104 high-capacity dewatering pumps along vulnerable track sections and carried out track lifting to reduce flooding risks," said an official.
Drone survey of flood-prone areas was conducted, and the flow patterns of water in yards and near railway tracks were studied before mansoon. Suction and de-sludging machines were also used to clean culverts, including critical ones at Bandra and Borivali, ensuring unobstructed drainage during heavy rainfall.
According to WR, the Mumbai Central division also embraced modern technology to enhance flood management. Floater cameras and drones are being used to assess issues in hard-to-reach drains for cleaning purposes. Similarly, five automated digital rain gauges have been installed, providing real-time, authentic rain data to help the administration plan effectively.
"A total of 58 culverts and 55.827 km of drains were de-silted and cleaned prior to the monsoon. Flood gauges have been placed at 36 locations, and 61 vulnerable track circuits have been attended to in preparation for the monsoon to ensure the continued movement of trains during heavy rainfall. Low-lying tracks have been raised at vulnerable spots to avoid waterlogging. New openings for waterways have been created in the Bandra Terminus area specifically to prevent waterlogging" said an official.
"Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA)-based water level monitoring devices have been installed at sensitive locations. These devices send SMS alerts about water levels every 12 hours and whenever water reaches a dangerous level" further added official. Additionally, four railway-affecting sites, such as Powai Lake and Vihar Lake, have been jointly inspected with concerned authorities and certified as safe and satisfactory.
"These measures, along with continuous monsoon patrolling by our dedicated staff, have allowed us to maintain uninterrupted service even during the peak of the rainfall," stated a senior WR officer. Special attention was also given to muck cleaning, with over 500 trips of muck-special trains deployed to clear suburban areas ahead of the rains.
While the downpour led to few tree branch falls and inconvenience at a few locations, WR officials emphasized that these issues were swiftly addressed, and service was restored promptly due to the deployment of additional staff at sensitive locations.
"During the peak rainfall, real-time water pumping operations and close oversight from the Divisional Control Office, as well as the headquarter level were instrumental in preventing water accumulation on tracks, a crucial factor in maintaining uninterrupted service. As a result, while Mumbai's roads remained flooded, Western Railway’s suburban rail services reaffirmed their importance as the city's lifeline, transporting lakhs of passengers without major disruption," the official further added.
A pre-monsoon survey was conducted using drone technology to study water flow patterns in flood-prone areas, including yards and areas near railway tracks.
Western Railway exceptional pre-monsoon planning and crisis management
58 culverts and 55.8 km of drains were de-silted and cleaned before the monsoon to prevent flooding.
Vulnerable track locations were elevated to reduce the risk of track inundation.
3.5 km of drainage systems and 2 km of retaining walls were built.
15+ critical locations were equipped with the micro-tunneling method to create new waterways for efficient water flow management.
Regular coordination with the Mumbai Municipal Corporation (MCGM) was carried out for addressing waterlogging issues.
Dedicated teams were deployed on the ground, and senior officials ensured proactive monitoring.
104 high-capacity pumps were installed at vulnerable locations to ensure rapid drainage.
Drones were used for real-time flood monitoring in hard-to-reach areas.
Automated rain gauges and SCADA systems were installed to track water levels and send alerts.
104 trips of the muck special train were made before the monsoon to clear muck from the suburban section using heavy machinery.
61 vulnerable track circuits were checked to prevent signal failures during storms.
36+ risky trees were trimmed or removed to prevent track obstructions.
news