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With less than 4 months left for monsoon, BMC to tackle 55 flooding spots in Mumbai this year

Last year, BMC identified 100 new flooding spots across Mumbai.

According to the Mumbai Climate Action Plan (MCAP), 35 per cent of Mumbai's population resides in flooding spots. (File Image)

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has said it will take several measures to reduce flooding in 55 locations, which are among the contributors to Mumbai’s water logging situation, this year ahead of the monsoons.

Civic body officials said the flooding spots that have been identified this year are spread across the city and suburbs in areas like Vikhroli, Parel, Andheri, Vile Parle, Santacruz, and Dahisar, among others. A flooding spot is a low-lying area that is very likely to record a significant period of water logging during a moderate or heavy spell of rainfall every year.

BMC identifies chronic flooding spots in Mumbai by assessing the previous year’s rainfall pattern, following which remedial measures are implemented. According to the Mumbai Climate Action Plan (MCAP), 35 per cent of Mumbai’s population resides in flooding spots.

As many as 453 flooding spots have been identified in Mumbai, out of which 369 have already been handled, BMC data shows. Civic body officials said the 55 flooding spots will be tackled by them in the next year, and 18 other spots will be handled in coordination with the Indian Railways and other agencies like the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) among others. The remaining 11 spots are in the planning stage, they added.

Civic officials added many of these areas identified this year are adjoining railway tracks and low-lying areas on the banks of the Mithi River and other water bodies like Walbhat and Dahisar.

“Owing to heavy rainfall last year, the railway movement was affected a few times as the tracks went underwater. Our key focus for this year has been mitigation of these spots to ensure railway movement is not affected,” an official said.

“Even though the number of flooding spots has reduced, many of these spots identified this year are new. Activities like illegal encroachment often lead to chocking of the water bodies that lead to overflowing of the water causing water logging during the monsoon,” said the official.

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According to BMC officials, some of the mitigation measures include augmentation of the existing drainage network for improved water flow and sealing openings that lead to heavy inflow of seawater during the rains. Besides this, BMC is also installing portable dewatering pumps to channel out water during heavy rainfall.

The number of flooding spots to be tackled this year is fewer than what it was in 2024. Last year, BMC identified 100 new flooding spots of which 72 spots were tackled initially. The civic body also handled 16 other spots in coordination with the Railways, MMRDA, and other agencies.

Pratip Acharya

Pratip Acharya is a seasoned journalist based in Mumbai reporting for The Indian Express. With a career spanning over a decade, his work demonstrates strong Expertise and Authority in critical urban issues, civic affairs, and electoral politics across Eastern and Western India. Expertise & Authority Current Role: Journalist, The Indian Express (IE), reporting from Mumbai. Core Authority: Pratip's reporting focuses sharply on local democracy and development, specializing in: Urban Governance and Civic Affairs: Providing in-depth analysis of municipal decision-making, city planning, and local infrastructure, essential for informed urban reporting. City Politics and Environment: Covering the political dynamics of Mumbai and surrounding areas, alongside critical environmental challenges impacting the metro region. Electoral Coverage (High-Stakes Experience): He has extensive experience in high-stakes political reporting, having covered major elections, establishing his Trustworthiness in political analysis: National: Lok Sabha elections in 2014 and 2019. State: West Bengal Assembly elections in 2016 and Maharashtra Assembly elections in 2019. Major Assignments (Ground Reporting): Pratip demonstrated commitment during crises by conducting ground reporting throughout the Covid-19 pandemic since its breakout in 2020, offering first-hand accounts and analysis of the public health crisis. Experience Extensive Experience: Starting his career in 2014, Pratip has built his foundation across multiple prominent English dailies: Started at The Times of India in Kolkata (2014). Relocated to Mumbai (2016) and worked with The Free Press Journal and Hindustan Times before joining The Indian Express. Pratip Acharya's diverse experience across major publications, coupled with his specialized focus on the intricate details of urban governance and a track record of covering major electoral and health crises, establishes him as a trusted and authoritative source for news from India's critical metropolitan centres. ... Read More

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