Mumbai: BMC to spend Rs 65 crore to repair storm drains

Before monsoon arrives, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has swung into action to repair the storm water drains (SWD), which were damaged owing to Metro rail construction between Andheri and Western Express Highway metro stations.

Before monsoon arrives, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has swung into action to repair the storm water drains (SWD), which were damaged owing to Metro rail construction between Andheri and Western Express Highway metro stations.

Heavy-duty construction last year, during Metro Rail line 1 development, left many storm water drains damaged in the area. After which, BMC had asked Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) to restore storm water drains, replace missing manhole covers and remove debris from the construction sites, before monsoon hit.

Even after repeated reminder of deadlines, the civic body said they received no response from the MMRDA. The BMC now will spend Rs 65 crore to repair drains in the 1 km stretch and will recover 50% of cost from the development authority. The proposal will be tabled before standing committee meeting for discussion on Wednesday.

“This issue of getting storm water drains repaired has been long pending and it causes inconvenience to citizens, thus, we have decided to take up the repair work and recover 50% of the cost from MMRDA,” said SVR Srinivas, additional municipal commissioner, in charge of the SWD department. The work will be completed in eight months, excluding monsoon.

The civic body, later, will also take up repair work of other drains below the Metro line stretch. As the water logging causes massive traffic on the stretch, joint inspections were undertaken by BMC and MMRDA.

However, MMRDA maintained that they completed the work before handing over the mentioned stretch to BMC. Dilip Kawathkar, spokesperson MMRDA said “We had repaired all the storm water drains which were damaged during construction work before handing over the road to BMC.”

PATCHING UP
* BMC now will spend Rs 65 crore to repair drains between Andheri and Western Express Highway metro station

* It also plans to recover 50% of cost from the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority

* The proposal will be tabled before standing committee meeting for discussion on Wednesday

* The work will be completed in eight months, excluding monsoon

* The civic body, later, will also take up repair work of other drains below the Metro line stretch.

“This issue of getting storm water drains repaired has been long pending and it causes inconvenience to citizens, thus, we have decided to take up the repair work,” said SVR Srinivas, additional municipal commissioner, in charge of the SWD department.