After a delay of several years, the BrihanMumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has finally shortlisted a contractor to construct a pumping station at Mogra nullah in Oshiwara. The administration is now awaiting a final nod by the standing committee. The proposal will be tabled for approval on Wednesday.
Mogra Nullah pumping station will be Mumbai’s seventh pumping station to help discharge water from the nullah into the sea. It will help provide relief to areas like Andheri, Versova, Jogeshwari, and Oshiwara that witness waterlogging during monsoon.
According to the proposal, the project's cost is estimated to be Rs 393 crore and work is expected to be completed in 20 months (excluding the monsoon months) after the work order is given. Officials from the Storm Water Drain Department said that the firm shortlisted for the project is a joint venture by the Michigan Engineers Private Limited and Mahalasa Construction Private Limited. It will also be responsible for the operation and maintenance of the pumping station for next seven years after it is constructed.
The project was envisaged after the 2005 deluge, when the BMC had planned to construct a total of eight pumping stations to augment the stormwater drainage system in the financial capital and part of BRIMSTOWAD PROJECT. Out of the eight pumping stations that were planned, six have been completed and are operational -this includes Haji Ali, Love Grove (Worli) and Cleaveland Bunder (Worli), Irla (Juhu), Britannia (Reay Road) and Gazadarbandh (Khar Danda).
The Mahul and Mogra pumping stations were planned to be constructed together, and are the last of a network of eight pumping stations. “Only Mogra and Mahul projects are pending. The Mahul project is stuck because the site is owned by the Salt Department and they are not ready to hand it over to the BMC,” said a senior official from the SWD Department.
“The station will have a screen to filter floating materials in the nullah so that pumps can function smoothly and there is no blockage. This will be constructed over the nullah and no land acquisition is required. So we expect that the work will be completed on schedule,” another official said.
