Central Railway completes Rs 5.50 crore Thane station drainage project for monsoon
Central Railway has completed a ₹5.50-crore micro-tunnelling project at Thane station as part of its stepped-up monsoon preparedness measures to prevent waterlogging and minimize train service disruptions.
The project involved laying two 110-metre RCC pipelines beneath active railway tracks. According to railway officials, the new infrastructure is expected to significantly reduce flooding around Thane station during heavy rain and improve operational reliability.
Chief Public Relations Officer Dr. Swapnil Nila stated that Central Railway has prepared a comprehensive monsoon action plan. The railway has identified 117 chronic waterlogging-prone spots across its suburban network where tracks traditionally submerge during heavy downpours.
To counter the waterlogging, Central Railway is deploying 210 heavy-duty dewatering pumps, ranging from 12.5 HP to 100 HP. Officials are also executing extensive desilting of drains, culverts, and bridge waterways.
Out of 18 major flood-prone locations mapped for targeted engineering works, flood mitigation measures have already been completed at six critical locations. These include Sion-Kurla, Chunabhatti-Kurla, Vikhroli-Kanjurmarg, and Kurla-Tilaknagar.
Long-term infrastructure upgrades, such as track raising and bridge augmentation, are scheduled to continue in phases until 2028. Between 2024 and 2026, 42 bridges have already been upgraded as part of this programme.
Additionally, landslide-prone ghat sections between Kalyan-Lonavala-Karjat and Kasara-Igatpuri have been secured. Rockfall barriers, boulder netting, tunnel portals, gabion structures, and retaining walls were installed with technical support from Konkan Railway Corporation Ltd and IIT experts.
The focus on monsoon preparedness follows disruptions earlier this week, when intense showers affected services on the Trans-Harbour line between Turbhe and Koparkhairane and caused waterlogging at Dadar.
On Friday, commuters faced fresh disruptions due to multiple technical failures. An overhead equipment failure between Lower Parel and Dadar delayed services from 6 am to 7.22 am, followed by a point failure at Churchgate. A rail fracture was also detected on the Up Fast line at Kalyan around 8 am, restricting train speeds temporarily.
