Despite the early arrival of the monsoon, the BMC Commissioner and Administrator Mr. Bhushan Gagrani has directed that ongoing monsoon preparedness work be intensified and adapted to the current situation. He emphasized the need to keep the civic machinery fully equipped and urged all BMC officers and employees to remain alert and proactive.
Monsoon Preparedness Reviewed Amid Heavy Rainfall
While pre-monsoon work was progressing rapidly as per BMC’s plans, the monsoon arrived in Mumbai nearly 15 days ahead of schedule this year. This early onset has impacted works like drain cleaning, road repairs, and other infrastructure tasks. However, prioritizing essential civic services, Mr. Gagrani instructed that appropriate changes be made to existing plans and that all works be expedited without compromise.
High-Level Review Meeting Held
In response to the disruptions caused by continuous heavy rainfall two days ago, Mr. Gagrani conducted a thorough review of the monsoon preparedness on 28 May 2025. The meeting, held at BMC Headquarters, was attended by Additional Municipal Commissioner (Western Suburbs) Dr. Vipin Sharma, Additional Municipal Commissioner (Projects) Mr. Abhijit Bangar.
Furthermore, all concerned Joint Commissioners, Deputy Commissioners, Assistant Commissioners, and relevant officials also joined the meeting.
Drain Desilting and Flood Prevention Measures
Mr. Gagrani acknowledged that initial heavy rainfall affected the progress of ongoing municipal works, especially the desilting of drains. Nevertheless, he emphasized that the pace of monsoon-related work must not decline under any circumstances.
He directed that desilting of rivers and drains be completed within the next 8–10 days and necessary modifications be made to overcome weather-related challenges.
Deployment of Dewatering Systems
To tackle waterlogging in low-lying and flood-prone areas during heavy rain, the BMC has planned the installation of 414 dewatering pump sets across the city. Mr. Gagrani instructed that all pumps be verified for operational readiness within the next 24 hours. Trials must be conducted to ensure functionality, and coordination across departments is essential for timely execution.
Ten vehicle-mounted mobile pumps have also been approved on a lease basis, with Letters of Acceptance issued to the contractors. These are expected to be delivered within eight days and will serve as backup during emergencies.
Survey of New Waterlogging Spots
The Commissioner also stressed the need to ensure that water does not accumulate in low-lying areas. If flooding occurs, it must be drained quickly and efficiently. Assistant Commissioners and Deputy Commissioners have been tasked with inspecting newly identified waterlogging locations and determining the causes. Immediate and permanent solutions are to be implemented to prevent future occurrences.
Flood Gate Operations and Roadworks
Flood control gates at pumping stations like Haji Ali, Love Grove, and Britannia must be installed timely and operated properly. Status updates should be provided to the Disaster Management Cell every two hours.
Pending road concreting work should be completed quickly. Roads left incomplete should be finished with mastic asphalt and made traffic-ready. Debris, barricades, and other obstructions must be removed from roads and stored within 24 hours to ensure smooth traffic flow. Additionally, tree trimming work must be completed on time.
These were among the comprehensive directives issued by Commissioner Bhushan Gagrani during the high-level meeting, as the BMC intensifies its efforts to ensure a flood-ready Mumbai amidst an early and intense monsoon season.
