Indian Railways Urged To Partner With IIT Mumbai For Monsoon Preparedness

Railway Minister Piyush Goyal has urged partnership with institutions like IIT Mumbai to study the efficiency of technical and civil work initiatives of the national transporter in handling monsoon rains.

The railways in India and Mumbai needs to be fully prepared for the monsoon, said Goyal while reviewing the preparations and road map of Mumbai Suburban Railways in having all contingency solutions in rainy season.

The minister examined the current status of vulnerable areas and reviewed plans for smooth functioning of trains.

Goyal said that the railways is committed to ensuring that no inconvenience is caused to Mumbaikars as monsoon begins.

He said innovation and hard work must go together to ensure that railway services continue to operate safely and in an uninterrupted manner.

The railways had undertaken a major exercise for cleaning muck/garbage/earth of 210,000 cubic metres from suburban section by deploying specially modified EMU rakes in Mumbai.

Flooding spots of previous monsoon were identified and customised solutions were devised for each spot such as Bandra, Andheri, Mahim, Grant Road and Goregaon.

In order to have real time and authentic rain data, four numbers automatic rain gauge (ARG) have now been installed in association with IMD and 10 numbers installed by Western Railway independently.

The number of pumps provided on track and depots including sewerage and submersible pumps have been increased by 33 per cent.

Drones were used for survey and monitoring of cleaning of nallah in Borivali-Virar section and suction/de-sludging machines were used to ensure deep cleaning of culverts.

Adoption of new micro tunnelling method for construction of culverts was taken up to ensure that water-logging is minimised.

The meeting was attended by senior officials of Railway Board and Mumbai.

Meanwhile, on a mission mode, more than 400 oxygen expresses have completed liquid medical oxygen (LMO) deliveries across the country.

Oxygen expresses have transported 1,648 tankers, delivering more than 28,473 MT of LMO across the country.