Central Railway Preparation For Monsoon
Mumbai Division of Central Railway gears up with Monsoon Preparations
The advent of Covid-19 pandemic in India and subsequent lockdown to arrest the spread of the coronavirus resulted in cancellation of all passenger train services. This has made possible to carry out monsoon precautionary measures in Mumbai, especially on suburban network smoothly and thoroughly. To ensure smooth and disruption frees services during ensuing monsoon Mumbai Division of Central Railway has geared up with following measures.
Desilting of Drains and Culverts
More than 16 JCB’s / Poclains deployed for cleaning and desilting drain and culverts with maintaining social distancing over Mumbai suburban. Till now, 90 kms drain cleaning and first round of culverts cleaning has been completed. Muck/debris are being disposed off by 3 BRN muck specials and 2 EMU muck specials with adequate block during this lockdown period.
Widening /Augmentation of Culverts
To ensure free flow of the storm water and to avoid water logging several culvert augmentations works completed at Kurla car-shed, Wadala & Tilak Nagar which are identified as flood prone areas.
Provision of Pumps
Central Railway also planned to provide heavy-duty diesel and electric pumps for fast drainage as to ensure free flow of the storm water so that the water is drained out quickly from the tracks and train operations are not disrupted during the monsoon period.
Traction Distribution Wing
The TRD wing of Mumbai Division, Central Railway also ensuring the maintenance of Crossovers, Turnouts, Masts, Cantilevers etc for smooth operations of trains by operating power blocks. The Live Line Checking by Tower Wagon and Foot Patrolling of sections is being carried out to ensure healthiness of OHE gears for smooth running of trains.
The work being carried out are badly rusty portal booms removal, 47 nos. Tunnel OHE overhauling in Ghat sections, Checking and maintaining critical clearance under ROB/ FOB in entire BB division, Insulators cleaning by in-house technology of high-pressure jet. In Asangaon -Kasara section 17 nos badly rusty portal booms and 34 nos Upright masts cut and removed. In this section together line block margin is very less, Traction Distribution Department utilised lockdown period for removal of these masts. While executing the work proper physical distancing has been maintained and all staff at site used masks and sanitizers.
Electrical General
22KV, 3MVA Transformer cleaning and tightening of outgoing connections at TMS substation CSMT, Power Panel & lighting panel at Parcel building, CSMT cleaned and tightening of outgoing connections, All the rectifiers at CSMT platforms cleaned and tightening the loose connections and measure the temperature of outgoing connections, Overhauling and Breakdown attention of Pumps at various locations on Mumbai Division.
Ghat Sections
Running of boulder material train to scan + drop boulders
Operation of Hill gangs (expert, skilled gang) to identify loose boulders
Scanning/Sounding of Tunnels
Erection of steel structures approaching tunnels to protect boulder fallen on tracks, etc
Signal & Telecom
Completed meggering of cables in entire Mumbai division (which was only possible in such short time due to less/no traffic), 96 nos. of point motors sealed as part of monsoon preparedness. Panel Testing done at 2 stations, Point Machines & Signal unit replacement was also carried out.
Monsoon Precautions Booklet
Monsoon booklet for railway staff is also under preparation. The booklet will contain details related to monsoon (the dates of high tides during the monsoon, staff/officer duties etc)
Coordination meetings
Further coordination meetings are being done with MCGM authorities. Several new initiatives have been put in place by the Central Railway as part of the preparedness for monsoon this year.
Here’s a comprehensive overview of Central Railway’s Monsoon Preparation to ensure safe, uninterrupted train operations during the rainy season:
🚄 1. Pre‑Monsoon Infrastructure & Drainage Measures
- Drain Cleaning & Culvert Maintenance
— Central Railway (CR) has desilted over 323 km of drains and cleaned 651 culverts, with muck removal of approximately 3 lakh cubic meters in Mumbai suburban sections by May 31, 2025. 396 high-capacity water pumps installed at key flood‑prone locations. - Micro‑Tunnelling Technology
— Employed at vulnerable spots like Dadar‑Parel, Kurla Car Shed, Kanjurmarg, Matunga‑Sion, Diva, and Kalwa to improve drainage flow.
🛠️ 2. Track & Ghat‑Section Safety Initiatives
- Slope Stabilization & Boulder/Muck Arrest Systems
— CR has installed boulder-netting and Canadian fencing at critical ghat sections such as Kasara–Igatpuri and Sion–Matunga to prevent rock falls during heavy rain. - Strategic Earthwork in Sindi–Borkhedi Section
— Advanced excavation and slope stabilization works to address waterlogging and soil erosion in black cotton soil zones.
🧰 3. Emergency Response Capabilities
- Monsoon‑Preparedness Rakes
— CR’s Nagpur Division holds 22 ballast/gravel wagons stationed across five vulnerable locations to facilitate rapid repair of washouts. - Flood Monitoring & Point Machine Protection
— 231 point machine covers installed to prevent failures in flood-prone yards.
🌐 4. Technological Monitoring & Real-Time Data
- Rain & Flood Monitoring Systems
— Installation of 14 automatic rain gauges, with data feeding directly to CR control rooms for timely alerts. - Remote & Under‑Bridge Drone & Floater Cameras
— Deployed for monitoring culverts and bridge areas, including in low-light conditions for proactive maintenance.
💡 5. Rolling Stock & Signal‑Electrical Safeguards
- Coach Preparations
— Conducted roof leakage tests, drainage cleaning, rubber sealing, and repair of drip trays and electrical boxes to prevent rainwater damage. - Power & Signal Resilience
— Extra DG sets deployed, trajectory systems waterproofed, relay rooms earthing checked, and backup power for signalling assured.
🤝 6. Inter‑Agency Coordination & Emergency Planning
- Collaborative Oversight
— Joint monitoring groups involving CR, WR, BMC, Railway Police, SRA, MHADA and others coordinate monsoon response and public safety - Disaster Preparedness Planning
— Logistics including local transport support and emergency routing arrangements for passenger evacuation are aligned with civic agencies.
📋 Summary of Key Preparations
| Area | Key Measures |
|---|---|
| Drainage & Water Management | Pump installations, culvert cleaning, micro-tunnelling |
| Track Sections & Embankments | Boulder nets, slope stabilization, cutting works |
| Emergency Response | Preparedness trains/wagons stocked for real-time restoration |
| Monitoring & Tech Tools | Rain gauges, float/drone cameras, remote sensing |
| Rolling Stock Maintenance | Coach leakage testing, sealing, equipment waterproofing |
| Electrical & Signal Safety | Shielded signalling gear, backup power systems |
| Interagency Coordination | Disaster management planning and passenger evacuation support |
📰 Recent Incident (July 2025)
Despite these precautions, on July 22 2025, a landslip near Kasara station impacted a local train from CR’s Mumbai line. A passenger sustained minor injuries, and track clearance was restored within minutes under the emergency protocol
Would you like to know what preventive work has been done on a specific CR division (like Nagpur, Pune, or Mumbai), or check real-time waterlogging alerts in your area?