Mumbai: The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) will install 323 dewatering pumps this monsoon across the city. Every year, the storm water drains (SWD) department installs dewatering pumps at crucial flooding locations to reduce duration of water logging. However, this year after demand from Western Railways, higher-capacity pumps (1,000 cubic metre per hour) will be installed in Bandra to avoid train service disruptions.

The dewatering pumps are installed for a period of four-and-half months and the total cost of operations for this year will be Rs 25 crores. The pumps will be put into operation from May 25 and installation for the same has begun at a few locations. Every dewatering pump has an operator 24/7 and the pump is operated during heavy rainfall to avoid flooding.

"Totally 323 pumps will be installed, however after demand from railways at Chamdawadi nullahs in Bandra East, a higher capacity of 1000 cubic metre/h will be installed. We used to install four pumps of 240 cubic metre/h capacity, however, this year that plan has changed. The Chamdawadi nullah causes water logging at areas like S.V. Road from Bandra East to Khar East, National College, etc," said a civic officer.

Some of the crucial locations where the pumps will be installed are subways at Andheri, Dahisar, Malad, Khar, King's circle, Hindmata, Parel East, Sion Koliwada, Dharavi, Sandhurst Road, Wadala Station, Kurla LBS Road and Chembur's Postal colony among others.

"For two other crucial nullahs, the Swadeshi and Adhyapak culverts from Sion to Dharavi stretch, we started installing higher capacity pumps from last monsoon to avoid disruption of train services at Sion and Chunabhatti", the officer added.