15 June,2026 07:55 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Maharashtra Deputy CM Eknath Shinde said the delayed arrival of the monsoon had provided agencies with additional time to strengthen preparedness measures. Pic/X
Mumbai Deputy Chief Minister (CM) Eknath Shinde on Monday directed all the agencies concerned in Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) to work in coordination during the monsoon season to ensure "zero loss of life". He also stressed the need to plan for drinking water supply as the delayed onset of the monsoon could impact water availability.
Reviewing the monsoon preparedness of agencies in MMR through a video-conference, Shinde said that alongside disaster management efforts, authorities should expedite pending desilting works, operationalise holding ponds and flood gates, install protective netting in landslide-prone areas, and conduct structural audits of hoardings.
He further suggested that the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) set up its own disaster response teams on the lines of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF).
"Administrative machinery should function as one team to provide relief and minimise inconvenience to Mumbaikars during the monsoon," he said.
Shinde also stated that of the 2,000 km road network in Mumbai, concreting work on nearly 1,700 km has been completed, resulting in an 80 per cent reduction in expenditure on road and pothole repairs.
The meeting was attended by Mumbai Mayor Ritu Tawde, Deputy Mayor Sanjay Ghadi, group leader Amey Ghole, Municipal Commissioner Ashwini Bhide, Additional Chief Secretary to the Deputy CM Aseem Gupta, Principal Secretary Navin Sona, Additional Municipal Commissioners Dr Vipin Sharma, Dr Ashwini Joshi, Abhijit Bangar and Dr Avinash Dhakane, among others.
Officials from several central and state agencies, including Central Railway, Western Railway, the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the Indian Coast Guard, the Navy, NDRF, Mumbai Police, Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (MHADA), Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA), and Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST), also participated in the review meeting.
Shinde said the delayed arrival of the monsoon had provided agencies with additional time to strengthen preparedness measures. He directed BEST and MSRTC to plan alternative transport arrangements, asked the Railways to ensure proper cleaning of drains beneath railway tracks, and called for greater vigilance to prevent accidents caused by falling trees.
He also emphasised the need for effective drainage in slum areas to curb the spread of water-borne diseases, adequate stocking of medicines at the Hinduhridaysamrat Balasaheb Thackeray Aapla Dawakhana centres, and measures to prevent waterlogging at Mumbai Metro stations. He urged civic authorities to maintain close coordination with the NDRF, Navy, Air Force, and Army to provide timely assistance to citizens during emergencies.
According to information presented by the BMC, Mumbai has 125 rain gauges and is expected to witness 24 days of high tides exceeding 4.5 metres between June and September. A total of 934 dewatering pumps and 65 mini pumping stations have been installed across the city. A smart pump management system has also been introduced this year to monitor pumping stations from the civic body's control room.
The civic administration further informed that 1,000 'Aapda Mitras', three NDRF teams and nine Navy teams have been deployed as part of the city's monsoon preparedness plan.
