13 October,2026 07:14 AM IST | Mumbai | Sarthak Mehta
Waterlogging at Andheri subway during the monsoon. File pic/Atul Kamble
The Andheri subway was shut 24 times between June and October this monsoon, resulting in nearly 39 hours of disruption, according to BMC data reviewed by mid-day. Water levels during the closures ranged from one foot to 5.5 feet, with the longest shutdown lasting eight hours and 40 minutes on July 4, when the subway was submerged under five feet of water.
The number of closures was lower than the 33 recorded in 2025. However, a permanent solution to the recurring flooding remains years away, with civic officials saying the intervention will take time.
Of the 24 closures this year, 19 occurred in July, when Mumbai received more than 60 per cent of its annual average rainfall. June recorded four closures, while September saw one. In 13 instances, the subway remained shut for an hour or longer.
The highest water level recorded was 5.5 feet on July 1, when the subway remained closed for three hours. The longest disruption occurred on July 4, lasting eight hours and 40 minutes. The last recorded flooding before the end of September occurred on September 29, and the subway remained closed for an hour.
A senior civic official said the flooding issue was being addressed under the BMC's Comprehensive Flood Mitigation Plan, in collaboration with the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA). "An intervention for the Andheri subway's persistent flooding issue is one of the components of our Comprehensive Flood Mitigation Plan, which is in collaboration with the National Disaster Management Authority. The intervention cannot be immediate and will take two to three years," the official said.
Dhaval Shah, co-founder of the Lokhandwala Oshiwara Citizens' Association, said the prolonged delay was disappointing and urged authorities to study the location's specific challenges before finalising a solution.
"Years ago, when authorities started finding a solution for this problem, I honestly didn't expect it to stretch this long. Authorities are taking their time; they should deeply study the problem to come up with a solution. What worked at other spots in the city won't necessarily be successful here.
The spot is uniquely complex in its problem. The solution should be implemented after all factors are considered; otherwise it will lead to just another expense with no long-term solution," Shah said.
The Andheri subway is a crucial east-west connector. When flooding forces its closure, traffic is diverted via Gokhale Bridge, adding around 1.5 km to the journey, or via the Balasaheb Thackeray Flyover, adding roughly 3 km. The subway is particularly vulnerable to monsoon flooding because it lies in a low-lying catchment area connected to Mogra nullah.
Earlier this year, civic chief Ashwini Bhide said solutions were available to mitigate flooding at the location and that the BMC was exploring them. As mid-day had previously reported, BMC dropped a flyover proposal because space constraints made it difficult. It subsequently considered sump pits and underground water-holding tanks, similar to those installed at Hindmata and Gandhi Market to reduce waterlogging. The Andheri subway is among the locations covered under the BMC's R13K crore flood mitigation plan.
Closures in 2026
24
Total downtime
Nearly 39 hours
Highest water level
5.5 feet
Longest closure
8h 40m, July 4
