For all those staying on the Vasai-Virar belt, life came to a standstill during last year's monsoon as the Western Railway services were shut for 3-4 days due to severe waterlogging on the tracks.
In a bid to prevent a recurrence of the situation, the Western Railway authorities have kicked off the process of widening the nullahs and drains crisscrossing tracks.
The extended suburb had submerged last July with waist-high water on the roads and tracks disrupting connectivity altogether.
Now, the engineering department of the Western Railway has called tenders for beginning the drain-widening work which will cost an estimated Rs 15.35 crore. The work will start soon, a railway official said.
"We will be widening the culverts and putting up cement concrete storm water drains which are 1,800 mm wide. These would go across the rail tracks from west to east," said a WR official on the condition of anonymity.
Sources said that the work will be divided in three parts.
The biggest chunk of the improvement work, which would cost over Rs 8.30 crore, would be carried out between Vasai Road and Nallasopara.
Simultaneously, the authorities will also widen the storm water drains between Nallasopara and Virar at a cost of Rs 4.7 crore.
And finally, they will strengthen the drainage at Nallasopara at an estimated expense of Rs 2.35 crore.
The works will ensure that water flows properly and does not stagnate on the tracks and railway premises.
Senior WR officials said these works are time-consuming but will be completed before the next monsoon.
At present, the circumference of these drains varies from 600 mm to 1200 mm.
On the intervening night of March 2-3, top WR officials inspected the railway tracks between Mumbai Central and Vasai stations.
The WR claims that there has been rampant developmental work in the Vasai-Virar belt where skyscrapers have come up. Due to this, the road has risen to a level higher than rail tracks, which led to waterlogging with rainwater rising as high as 4 feet.
They also identified spots where cross drains need to be improved.
Sources said that the local municipal body, Vasai-Virar Municipal Corporation, is also carrying out work to better its drainage system.
WIDENING THE GUTTER SPACE
WR claims there has been rampant developmental work in Vasai-Virar, which is dotted with high-rises. Due to this, the road has risen to a level higher than rail tracks, which led to waterlogging with rainwater rising as high as 4 feet.
As such, the extended suburban area needs a vast upgrade on its drainage system, essentially widening of storm water drains, or imrpving them. Other than teh WR, the local municpal body is also improving the drain system.
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