The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) will install 547 portable dewatering pumps as part of its measures to tackle waterlogging in parts of the city during the monsoon, an official said on Tuesday, PTI reported.
Review meeting held with key agencies
Municipal Commissioner Ashwini Bhide chaired a joint meeting of the BMC and other agencies, including the India Meteorological Department, to review monsoon preparedness.
496 flood-prone spots identified across Mumbai
Speaking to PTI after the meeting, Bhide said Mumbai has 496 flood-prone spots, of which 403 have already been addressed. Of the remaining 93, only 13 can be resolved before the monsoon.
Pumps to be deployed across city zones
The BMC will install 547 portable dewatering pumps, of which 146 will be in the island city, 178 in the eastern suburbs, and 123 in the western suburbs. Additionally, six pumping stations and 10 mini pumping stations will be operational, the civic chief said.
Bhide said the pumps will be kept ready from May 5, considering last year’s early onset of the monsoon and the possibility of pre-monsoon showers.
IoT-enabled monitoring system to be used
All portable pumps will be fitted with IoT-based devices so they can be controlled through smartphones and monitored in real time from the control room, she said, the news agency reported.
Road concretisation and pending works
Of Mumbai’s 2,050-kilometre road network, 1,745 kilometres have been concretised, while work on the remaining 305 kilometres is underway, with progress ranging between 45 per cent and 90 per cent, Bhide said, PTI reported.
Road works that are less than 70 per cent complete are unlikely to be finished before the monsoon. Therefore, the civic body has decided to close such works and cover the stretches with mastic.
Pothole repair costs decline
She further pointed out that pothole repair costs have reduced substantially in recent years due to concretisation. The civic body has allocated Rs 45 crore for pothole repairs this year, compared with Rs 97 crore in 2025.
Desilting and river cleaning progress
Major nullah desilting works are 39 per cent complete, while cleaning of the Mithi River is expected to be finished before the monsoon, she said, the PTI reported.
Dilapidated buildings and tree trimming
Bhide said Mumbai has around 174 dilapidated buildings classified under the C1 category, of which 72 have been vacated, while action in 71 cases has been stalled due to court stays.
She added that around 59,720 trees are scheduled for trimming this year. Of these, 26,672 have already been trimmed, while the remaining work is expected to be completed by the end of May.
Notices have been issued for around 7,000 trees on private or government premises.
Coordination with railways, NDRF deployment
The municipal commissioner said the BMC will conduct joint inspections with railway authorities to address flooding on railway tracks.
Bhide added that three teams of the National Disaster Response Force will remain deployed in Mumbai during the monsoon.
(With PTI inputs)
