Mumbai, August 19, 2024: The flooding at Andheri Subway, BJP legislator Ameet Satam from Andheri (West) has proposed a series of measures aimed at mitigating the issue. The Subway, which has been closed 28 times this monsoon season, has suffered from water accumulation that has caused disruptions lasting from 15 minutes to as long as four hours.
Satam, who visited the site on August 8, 2024, along with officials from the Storm Water Drain (SWD) department and local ward representatives, conducted an on-ground assessment of the flooding issue. Following his visit, he penned a detailed letter to Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) Additional Municipal Commissioner Abhijit Bangar, highlighting the root causes of the problem and suggesting feasible solutions.
In his letter, Satam emphasized the need for constructing an underground tank or holding pond on the eastern side of the Andheri Subway, similar to the measures implemented at Milan Subway and Hindmata. "It was observed that the Andheri Subway was closed on 28 occasions this season till date, with closure on each occasion ranging from 15 minutes to 4 hours. To incur such a huge expense of ₹600 crore for this project (micro-tunnelling) is not feasible and advisable," stated Satam.
During his site visit, Satam observed that water accumulation primarily occurs due to the flow of water from the eastern side toward the western side of the subway. To address this, he proposed the construction of an underground tank or holding pond beneath the ground or any available open space, including beneath the road, to capture the inflow from the east.
In addition to the holding pond, Satam recommended the creation of rainwater harvesting pits within the stormwater drain system to maximize water absorption. He suggested that a geological survey and consultation with experts from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) should be conducted before implementing this measure. Further, he advocated for the augmentation of the SWD network's capacity along SV Road, an evaluation and enhancement of the existing sewer network on the eastern side, and the widening of the nalla (drain) from Millionaire Building to its endpoint.
Satam expressed confidence that these measures would significantly reduce water accumulation at Andheri Subway, offering relief to the public without incurring excessive costs. "If the above measures are taken up, this will lead to a reduction in the water accumulation at the Andheri Subway. This will happen without even incurring huge expenditure, and thus saving public money and at the same time giving relief to citizens," he concluded.
The suggestions come as a proactive effort to ensure that the ongoing monsoon season does not further disrupt daily life in one of Mumbai's busiest areas.
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