Although the monsoon has arrived in Mumbai nearly a fortnight ahead of schedule, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) must adapt swiftly and intensify its pre-monsoon preparedness efforts, BMC Commissioner and Administrator Mr. Bhushan Gagrani has directed.
While reviewing the city’s monsoon readiness in the wake of heavy rainfall that disrupted civic life two days ago, Mr. Gagrani emphasized the need for all civic machinery to remain fully equipped and for BMC officials and staff to stay on high alert.
During a meeting held at the BMC headquarters, attended by Additional Municipal Commissioners Dr. Vipin Sharma (Western Suburbs) and Mr. Abhijit Bangar (Projects), along with all zonal Deputy and Assistant Commissioners, Mr. Gagrani acknowledged the impact of early and intense rainfall on civic works—particularly desilting operations in nullahs.
“Even though the early arrival of monsoon has disrupted some pre-planned works, the pace of monsoon preparations must not slacken under any circumstances,” said Mr. Gagrani. He instructed that necessary revisions be made to the original action plan, and tasks such as desilting of rivers and drains be completed within the next 8–10 days.
To mitigate the risk of waterlogging, especially in low-lying and flood-prone areas, the BMC has planned to deploy 414 dewatering pump sets across the city. The Commissioner ordered confirmation that all pumps are installed and operational within the next 24 hours. He also instructed that the system be thoroughly tested to ensure functionality, with coordination across departments for seamless execution.
Ten vehicle-mounted mobile pumping units are also being procured on a lease basis, with Letters of Acceptance already issued to contractors. These units are expected to be operational within eight days and will serve as a critical resource during emergencies.
The Commissioner further directed that utmost care be taken to prevent water accumulation in low-lying areas. In case waterlogging occurs due to heavy rains, efforts should be made to ensure its rapid drainage. He urged Assistant Commissioners and Deputy Commissioners to inspect newly identified waterlogging spots, analyze root causes, and implement corrective measures without delay.
At key flood-control pumping stations such as Haji Ali, Love Grove, and Britannia, the floodgates must be installed timely and operated properly. Reports on gate operations should be submitted to the Emergency Management Department every two hours to confirm their status.
Remaining concrete road works should be expedited, and incomplete roads should be made traffic-ready using mastic asphalt. Debris, barricades, and construction materials must be cleared from roads and shifted to storage depots within 24 hours to ensure unimpeded vehicular movement.
Lastly, tree trimming operations must be completed on schedule to prevent risks during storms, Mr. Gagrani added, concluding the review meeting with a comprehensive set of directives to enhance Mumbai’s monsoon resilience.
