Mumbai local train updates: Western Railway gears up ahead of monsoon, speeds up waterways work

The Western Railway WR on Friday said that its Mumbai division has been gearing up for the upcoming monsoon season to provide seamless services in the rainsIn a statement the WR said additional waterways are being constructed through Micro ndash Tunnelling at flooding prone locations across the Mumbai suburban section These waterways have been already constructed at 5 locations Additional 2 recently commissioned while 5 more to be completed in this yearIt said WR is committed to provide smooth travel for its commuters to keep the wheels of trains running and ensure uninterrupted services especially during the monsoons Due to the sustained efforts and infrastructure upgradations the suburban operations have improved in the past few years during the monsoons and WR ran train services smoothly and normally over Mumbai suburban section with minimum disruptions despite heavy rainfall One of the techniques adopted in this direction is construction of additional waterways using micro ndash tunneling method Such waterways have been already constructed at 5 locations Recently another two waterways were commissioned while 5 more will be completed in this yearAccording to a press release issued by Sumit Thakur Chief Public Relations Officer of Western Railway the topography of the major flood prone areas of previous monsoons such as Bandra Andheri Mahim Grant Road Goregaon Vasai Road amp Virar were studied in detail and an action plan was drawn accordingly to suit the requirements of the particular area the aim being to facilitate quick amp smooth discharge of rainwater and prevent water loggingAlso Read Western Railway to run 32 pairs of summer special trains check detailsIt said the WR studied the flooding pattern and devised customized solutions for each flooding locations by adopting modern technology and techniques to put an end to this perennial issue of flooding One of the technique include construction of additional waterways by using the advanced microtunnelling method Such waterways have been constructed between Bandra ndash Khar Goregaon ndash Malad Vasai Road ndash Nallasopara Nallasopara ndash Virar sections as well as at Nallasopara South near culvert no 79Thakur stated that recently WR undertook the work of construction of waterways at bridge No 78 between Vasai Road and Nallasopara stations Three pipes of 1800mm diameter were inserted by microtunnelling method This will prevent negative free board at Ancholi Nallah quick recession of water during high tide coupled by heavy rainfall in Vasai area It will also help to reduce flooding in Vasai Yard Also the work of insertion of 2 pipes of 1800mm diameter parallel to culvert 54 has been completed at Goregaon Yard The work was completed in Marchrsquo23 and this will help to augment discharge capacity of culvert no 54 and ease out flooding problem of Goregaon Yard Further five more such waterways are being constructed at various locations Out of these the work on 2 waterways are in progress amp will be completed before the onset of the monsoon while the remaining three will be completed in this year