₹22-cr cross drain at Virar rly yard to curb waterlogging

Cleaning of culverts and the drainage system along the tracks is being conducted by the VVMC on a regular basis. SENIOR WR OFFICIAL

MUMBAI: The Western Railway (WR) and Vasai-virar Municipal Corporation (VVMC) are already taking measures against monsoon waterlogging on the railway tracks by constructing a three-pipe cross drain at Virar railway yard.

The drain will facilitate the removal of water that gets collected on the tracks during the rains and hinders the operation of local and outstation trains.

In July 2018, WR local and outstation train services were affected for nearly 30 hours near Nalasopara railway station due to heavy rainfall. Around 2,000 outstation passengers were stuck due to waterlogging between Nalasopara and Vasai railway stations.

They were eventually rescued by the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), police and fire brigade personnel.

This prompted the WR and VVMC to conduct a massive cleaning of the culverts and construct short drainage lanes on the railway section between Vasai and Virar railway stations.

The cross drain is being constructed at a cost of ₹22 crore and will be connected to the existing culverts for the disposal of water from the railway tracks.

“There have been constant meetings with VVMC officials and inspections of the entire Virar and Vasai railway network are ongoing,” said a senior WR official.

“Cleaning of culverts and the drainage system is being conducted by the civic body on a regular basis. Another meeting is scheduled to take place in the first week of March,” he added.

The railways will also shift its equipment to a new station building at Nalasopara ahead of the monsoon. This will be done as signal equipment had been damaged in the 2018 monsoon.