CR makes delayed efforts to prevent water logging

After Friday's mess, where water logging on tracks caused major delays in train services, Central Railway is making desperate attempts to remove water from the tracks onto the roads - especially between Sion and Kurla.

After Friday's mess, where water logging on tracks caused major delays in train services, Central Railway is making desperate attempts to remove water from the tracks onto the roads - especially between Sion and Kurla.

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This move will anger those living near this stretch.

Kurla was one of the worst hit spots and it rained over 180mm on Friday. The water on the roads flowed onto the tracks, which are at a lower level. "The CR has not taken proper measures against the monsoon. Otherwise, it would not have been so bad," said D Godbole, member, Mumbai Rail Pravasi Sangh.

On Saturday, CR officials visited the Sion - Kurla stretch along the tracks and culvert and also inspected the Bramanwada nullah, which overflowed. They have proposed to cover the top of the nullah with a net to prevent sewage from flowing onto the tracks if it rains.

Also, the CR will install two additional water pumps on either side of the tracks to pump out water on this stretch. Authorities have already placed five water pumps along the tracks.

"We are contemplating pumping the water out on the roads from the tracks. This would affect people in living in the locality. However, this is a better option than blocking train services carrying lakhs of commuters," said a senior CR official on condition of anonymity.

The railway officials blame the slums along this stretch, a choked culvert and a water pipeline beneath the tracks, for problems during rains. "We will coordinate with the municipal corporation for a long-term solution," said Rahul Jain, divisional railway manager (Mumbai), Central Railway.