BMC, CR jointly carry out pre-monsoon desilting works

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has completed pre-monsoon desilting works under 15 different culverts that have been placed under the railway tracks of Central Railway.

On Sunday, the BMC in a statement said that between the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) and Mulund in the eastern suburbs, 15 different flood prone locations have been identified by the BMC. According to BMC, there are 116 culverts in all the three different suburban railway networks.

There are 41 culverts in the western railway, 53 on central railway and 22 culverts in the Harbour Line.

A senior official said, between Mulund and CSMT there are total 18 culverts and during a pre-monsoon review meeting between the BMC officials and Central Railway (CR), it was decided that BMC would carry out the desilting works.

"As the Central Railway didn't have the required logistics they requested BMC to carry out the desilting works of the closed culverts, within the railways boundary," said a senior official.

Engineers of the Storm Water Drains (SWD) department were appointed for carrying out the desilting works. The sludges were removed from 15 out of the 18 culverts by deploying specialised fire-fighting water sprayers that would remove the sludge by spraying water in force. The officials also said that alongside these 15 locations, culverts have also been cleaned between Bhandup and Mulund.

"The desilting works were being carried away in a record 15 days. The railways had also helped us with their own manpower for this joint operation," said the official.

Officials said, while desilting works were being carried out, senior railway officials were present for supervision.

A senior official said, between Mulund and CSMT there are total 18 culverts and during a premonsoon review meeting between the BMC officials and CR, it was decided that BMC would carry out the desilting works