MMRDA plans to deploy emergency response team at Metro construction sites
The Mumbai Metropolitan Regional Development Authority (MMRDA) plans to deploy an Emergency Response Team consisting of 50 labourers and five utility vehicles to combat waterlogging during monsoon at the Metro construction sites. This arrangement is a part of monsoon preparedness plan and is being implemented for Metro corridor 7 connecting Dahisar (east) to Andheri (east) and Metro 2A corridor connecting Dahisar to D N Nagar, which is under construction at present.
The MMRDA has chalked out the plan based on the packages in which the construction is being done for both the Metro corridors. Both the Metro corridors have been divided in five packages and each package will consist of 10 labourers and one utility vehicle.
“The response team will take charge of emergency situations in case of waterlogging. The state of art utility vehicle will have diesel and petrol pumps in addition to the electricity pumps and other equipment to combat
waterlogging. Last year, we managed to clear the Western Express Highway (WEH) of potholes and we hope to clear them even this year,” Pravin
Darade, Additional Metropolitan Commissioner, MMRDA.
The MMRDA has also planned to make use of mobile water pumps,
which are portable and easily accessible to combat flood like situation. “Last year, there was a waterlogging problem on the Jogeshwari-Vikhroli-Link Road (JVLR). This year we have called for additional de-watering pumps as we have identified 10 low-lying areas between proposed metro stations of Andheri to Ovaripada along the metro 7 corridor,” added an MMRDA official.
The MMRDA has also set up a 24/7 control room to minimise inconvenience to vehicular traffic and pedestrians at the metro construction sites. This control room is set to take up follow up actions on complaints, interact with various disaster control agencies such as state government, civic body and Mumbai police to exchange the information.
The control room officials will also ensure the smooth flow of rain water at various project sites. “The contractors have been instructed to strictly adhere to the safety measures. They are also asked to stringently follow norms as far as barricading, reinstatement of the damaged road works, clearing and disposal of the muck on the roads is concerned. The contractors will also maintain de-watering pumps of adequate capacity at the water logging spots”, added an MMRDA official.