Union railway minister asks Mumbai railways to partner with IIT for monsoon work

Waterlogged tracks between Sion and Matunga on Central Railway on Wednesday. Pic/Suresh Karkera

A day after Central Railway in Mumbai remained shut for the major part of the day as monsoon arrived, Union railway minister Piyush Goyal on Thursday said that the railways will be partnering with institutions like IIT-Bombay to study the efficiency of technical and civil work initiatives of railways in handling the monsoon.

While Western Railway remained afloat, Central Railway main line services remained shut for the major part of the day on Wednesday.

"Innovation and hard work must go together to ensure that railway services continue to operate safely uninterrupted," Goyal said while reviewing preparations and making a road map of Mumbai suburban railways in having all contingency solutions in rainy season.

While reviewing the preparedness of suburban railways, the minister advised the zonal railways to partner with institutions like IIT Bombay to study the efficiency of technical and civil work initiatives.

It may be noted that during the Covid-19 pandemic, railways had undertaken a major exercise to clean muck/garbage/earth of 3.6 lakh cubic meters from suburban section by deploying three full garbage trains, including specially modified old local rakes in Mumbai.

"Flooding spots of the previous monsoon were identified and customised solutions were devised for every location, including Bandra, Andheri, Mahim, Grant Road and Goregaon on Western Railway and Sandhurst Road and Kurla on the Central Railway," he said.

In order to have real time and authentic rain data, four numbers automatic rain gauge (ARG) have now been installed in association with India Meteorological Department (IMD) and ten numbers installed by Western Railway independently. The number of pumps provided on track and depots including sewerage and submersible pumps have been increased by 33 per cent, he added.

Drones were used for survey and monitoring of cleaning nallah in Borivli-Virar section and suction/de-sludging machines were used to ensure deep cleaning of culverts.

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