Mumbai: Malad subway stinks as sewage overflow goes unchecked for months

Filthy drain water seeps into the eastbound lane of the Malad subway. PICS/MADHULIKA RAM KAVATTUR

An overflowing drain in a subway that links Malad East and West has been a thorn in the sides of commuters and residents for at least two months. Locals told mid-day that despite flagging the issue with the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) on X and receiving responses from the civic body, nothing has changed on the ground.

The eastern exit of the underpass

The underpass, sandwiched between railway tracks and a nullah, unfailingly witnesses sewage overflow whenever there are pipe-related blockage or leakage issues. According to on-duty traffic police officers during the monsoon months, pumps are activated in the subway to prevent flooding. But otherwise, they are mostly inactive, which leads to such issues. mid-day contacted the BMC's P North ward, but received no reply by press time.

Voices of concern

Shankar Bhai Patel, a daily user of the subway
‘We not only get splashed with dirty water while driving but also on the elevated footpath, especially when vehicles are speeding. Sometimes during the monsoon season, when the pumps are not activated in time, we have to wade through knee-deep dirty water in the subway'

Subhas Varma, auto driver
‘We have learned to live with the stink because we can't avoid it. We avoid the extreme right of the tunnel where the seepage occurs. Sometimes, this slows down traffic. The stink here is unbearable. Water from the Malad fish market and the nullah both seep through because it is a low-lying area'

An auto driver
‘The bus stop is right next to the subway, so the traffic police come often, as do the regular police. It is when they come and point it out sometimes that action is taken. Whenever we, the people who use the subway daily, say anything, we are ignored'