The Andheri subway was closed yet again following a heavy downpour on Sunday morning. While the saucer-shaped tunnel has been shut more than 30 times this monsoon season, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) is yet to decide whether to implement anti-flooding measures suggested by the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IIT-B) that will cost Rs 600 crore. Last year, the subway, located near Mogra nullah, was closed to traffic 21 times due to waterlogging.

This year, the civic body has somewhat succeeded in tackling waterlogging at flood-prone spots such as Hindmata, Gandhi Market and Milan subway by improving the drainage network and using water storage tanks and high-capacity pumps. The BMC already initiated two plans to reduce the flow of water into the Andheri subway and the microtunnelling plan, as the measures are collectively referred to, also exists on paper. But officials are sceptical about spending crores on plans that may not be 100 per cent fruitful.