Fix damage caused by Metro work by May 31, Mumbai civic body tells MMRC

Ahead of the monsoon, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has identified 17 spots where work on the underground Metro has disturbed sewage and stormwater drains, which may, in turn, lead to flooding in case of heavy rain. The civic body has ordered the Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation Limited (MMRC) to fix the damage by May 31, failing which they could be penalised.

The stormwater drains department of BMC said the ongoing construction work for Colaba-Bandra-Seepz Metro-3 has left the 17 spots, mostly in south Mumbai, congested. VH Khandkar, chief engineer of the department, told HT, “MMRC’s piling work has disturbed many of our utility lines. The work is very slow and not up to the mark. After inspections, we have given them directions on remedy. I have written to the MMRC and Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA), asking them to rectify the arrangement of the utility lines by May 31.”

Another official said, “MMRC has already missed the April 30 deadline and may be penalised if they fail to complete the work before the monsoon.”

Some of the spots identified by the BMC are Bandra-Kurla Complex, SEEPZ, Marol Naka, Cuffe Parade, Churchgate station, Hutatma Chowk, Acharya Atre Chowk and Worli Naka, which are usually not prone to flooding. The civic body will inspect these spots again before June.

However, a spokesperson for MMRC said, “There is no delay in the work. All pre-monsoon measures will be carried out before the deadline.”

On Wednesday, mayor Vishwanath Mahadeshwar had said that in case Mumbai floods this monsoon, Metro work, and not BMC, is to blame. “The state government’s metro authorities will be responsible,” he said.