05 May,2026 06:51 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Mayor Ritu Tawde inspects the ongoing desilting and road development works in the eastern suburbs on Tuesday. PIC/BMC
Mumbai Mayor Ritu Tawde on Tuesday directed the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) officials to complete desilting of all the nullahs by May 31, as part of pre-monsoon preparations. She also directed them to deploy robotic equipment wherever necessary to ensure efficient cleaning.
Emphasising transparency and accountability, Tawde said CCTV cameras should be installed at desilting sites and local representatives must be given access to inspect the works and track progress.
"All desilting works under pre-monsoon preparations should be expedited and completed by May 31. Strict planning and implementation are required to make the drive more effective," she said.
The mayor, accompanied by Standing Committee Chairman Prabhakar Shinde, inspected the ongoing desilting and road development works in the eastern suburbs on Tuesday morning. She was joined by ward committee chairpersons, corporators, and senior officials from the storm water drains, roads, and traffic departments.
During her visit to the Usha Nagar nullah in Bhandup East, Tawde reviewed the desilting work along the 1.610-km stretch, where 3,433 metric tonnes of silt has been removed till Monday. The cleaning of four box culverts beneath Central Railway tracks is being carried out using an automatic swing loader machine. She instructed officials to construct protective walls along the nullah for safety and as a long-term solution, and reiterated the need for robotic machines in difficult sections.
At the Boundary nullah near Gawhanpada Fire Brigade in Mulund East, which spans 3.860 km with widths ranging between 15 and 26 metres, 3,341 metric tonnes of silt has been cleared so far. Tawde directed officials to speed up operations to meet the May 31 deadline.
Inspecting the Somaiya nullah near Garodia Nagar Metro Station in Ghatkopar, the mayor noted that 121 metric tonnes of silt had been removed till Monday. She called for additional manpower and machinery to ensure the complete removal of silt within the stipulated timeframe.
At Nullah No 10 near Sakinaka Metro Station, Tawde highlighted the challenges posed by dense population and low-lying terrain, which often lead to waterlogging. She instructed officials to adopt modern machinery, particularly at Safed Pool, and ensure removal of floating debris and household waste along with silt to maintain smooth wastewater flow.
Tawde also stressed the importance of coordination among all departments concerned to strengthen the city's drainage system. She said robotic machines should be used for regular cleaning of underground nullahs and culverts to prevent blockages.
In addition to desilting works, the mayor inspected road concretisation projects, including Tata Colony New Development Plan Road in T Ward and PAP Road in Mulund East. She directed engineers to maintain quality standards, ensure proper drainage, protect utility lines, and develop accessible footpaths and roadside greenery. All road works, she said, must also be completed by May 31 and opened for traffic.
The mayor further visited an ongoing housing project in Mulund East, where 7,500 tenements are being constructed for project-affected persons. She reviewed the progress and instructed officials to complete the project within the stipulated timeline to facilitate early rehabilitation.
