03 June,2026 07:46 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
BMC Commissioner Ashwini Bhide. File Pic
Ahead of the Mumbai rains, Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) Commissioner Ashwini Bhide on Wednesday defended Mumbai's monsoon preparedness, saying the city does not come to a complete halt during heavy rains and that claims of the entire city being submerged are often exaggerated.
Speaking to a Marathi news channel, Bhide said waterlogging remains limited to certain low-lying areas and usually clears within a short period, reported IANS.
Responding to frequent criticism over flooding during the monsoon, Bhide said the image of a completely flooded Mumbai is often created by repeatedly sharing visuals from a few specific locations. "Mumbai appears flooded only to those who wish to see it that way. The ground reality is entirely different," she said.
According to the BMC Commissioner, even when heavy rainfall coincides with high tide, water accumulation is largely restricted to low-lying pockets and does not usually remain for more than two hours.
"Projecting a picture that the entire city is submerged by repeatedly broadcasting a few specific low-lying pockets is incorrect. Mumbai never sinks," she added, reported the news agency.
Bhide said Mumbai continues to attract thousands of people every day because of employment opportunities and remains one of India's biggest economic centres. The city's large population and limited land area create significant challenges for civic authorities in providing infrastructure and public services.
At the same time, Mumbai's geographical location makes it particularly vulnerable during the monsoon season.
Explaining the issue, Bhide said Mumbai is surrounded by the sea on three sides and receives extremely heavy rainfall during the monsoon. "When high tide and torrential rainfall occur at the same time, water naturally accumulates in low-lying areas," she said, as per the news agency.
According to Bhide, Mumbai once had more than 200 waterlogging-prone locations. Through drainage improvements and other infrastructure measures, that number has now been reduced to around 90.
She expressed confidence that the number would decline further in the coming years. Until then, temporary water accumulation may still occur in some vulnerable areas during periods of intense rainfall, she said.
The BMC Commissioner pointed to last year's record rainfall, saying local train services were disrupted for only a brief period and only a limited number of bus routes had to be diverted as a precaution.
According to her, extensive pre-monsoon preparations by the administration have helped improve the situation significantly.
The city has constructed four large underground holding tanks that temporarily store rainwater during heavy downpours before it is pumped out. In addition, work is progressing on seven sewage treatment plants that will help recycle wastewater and improve sanitation infrastructure, said Bhide.
She also said large-scale road concretisation work is being carried out across Mumbai to permanently address the recurring problem of potholes.
According to the BMC, these projects are expected to improve drainage, reduce flooding and make the city better prepared for future monsoon seasons.
(With IANS Inputs)
