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The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has intensified its pre-monsoon desilting operations across the city, mandating stricter on-site supervision, structured planning, and daily progress tracking to improve efficiency and transparency.

Engineers Directed to Stay On-Site

According to the BMC, Additional Municipal Commissioner (Projects) Abhijit Bangar has instructed that Deputy Engineers and Assistant Engineers must remain physically present at desilting sites throughout the duration of the work. The civic body has emphasised that planning should be carried out on a drain-wise and day-wise basis, with daily updates recorded in a centralised digital system.

The BMC has set May 31, 2026, as the deadline for completing all drain-cleaning work. Officials have also been asked to install nets at key locations to prevent floating solid waste, particularly plastic, from entering the drainage system.

Inspections Across Western Suburbs

As part of the ongoing review, Bangar inspected multiple desilting sites in the western suburbs on April 29. These included the Walbhat River near the Western Express Highway in Goregaon (East), the Oshiwara River near Goregaon (West), the SNDT drain at Bandra (West), and the North Avenue drain in Santacruz (West).

The civic body stated that the inspections were aimed at assessing progress and issuing corrective directions to ensure timely completion of works ahead of the monsoon season.

Focus on Walbhat River and Flood-Prone Areas

At the Walbhat River, which originates in Sanjay Gandhi National Park and flows through Goregaon, officials highlighted the need for extensive desilting due to heavy silt accumulation during the monsoon. The BMC has directed that removed silt be disposed of promptly to prevent it from re-entering the river.

Special attention has also been given to flooding issues near Oberoi Mall in Goregaon (East), where waterlogging occurred last year due to blockages in the Piramal drain. The BMC has called for a permanent solution, including thorough cleaning of culverts, removal of debris, and exploration of mechanised cleaning methods. The process is to be documented through video recording.

Infrastructure Upgrades and Interim Measures

The civic body noted that drainage improvements are required near the SRPF compound in Goregaon, where slow water flow has been observed. While long-term upgrades are planned post-monsoon, temporary pumping arrangements will be used to manage water discharge in the interim.

In Andheri (West), works are underway to strengthen drainage systems near Oshiwara River, Mogra drain, and Irla drain to address chronic waterlogging in DN Nagar.

Progress on SNDT Drain Network

The BMC reported that earlier flooding issues in Bandra’s SNDT drain catchment have been mitigated through infrastructure upgrades, including a box drain at Link Road. However, waterlogging persists in some pockets, such as near the railway colony on Swami Vivekananda Road.

Officials have stressed the need for effective cleaning of key culverts and better coordination with metro authorities in areas where infrastructure work overlaps.

Emphasis on Accountability and Transparency

Through these measures, the BMC aims to ensure accountability in execution and minimise monsoon-related flooding risks. The civic body has reiterated that strict monitoring, timely completion, and improved waste management within drains remain critical to the success of the annual pre-monsoon exercise.