Central Railway gears up with monsoon related work on its suburban network
To ensure smooth and disruption free services during ensuing monsoon, Central Railway has geared up with monsoon preparations such has removal of muck, cleaning culverts and drains, trimming trees, scanning boulders, provision of high voltage pumps at locations vulnerable for water logging, provision of multi-section digital counters etc.
Taking advantage of the lockdown during the month of April & May, Central Railway’s Mumbai Division carried out monsoon precautionary measures on its suburban network as well as in ghats thoroughly. The details of measures for ensuring uninterrupted services are as under.
More High Voltage Pumps this year compared to last year at 17 vulnerable locations of Mumbai Suburban network on CR
Central Railway has identified 17 vulnerable locations for water logging during heavy rains and provided more than 140 pumps (Both by Railways and by Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai). This year the capacity of pumps and nos. of pumps were increased at flood prone locations to avoid flooding.
The locations identified on the main line are Masjid, Mazgaon yard, Byculla, Curry Road, Sion, Kurla, Vikhroli, Ghatkopar, Nanipada, Thane, Dombivali, on Harbour line are Sewri, Vadala, Chunabhatti, Koparkhairane and on mainline towards southeast are subway at Km 65/7-8, Subway at Km 75/1-2.
Desilting of drains
Central Railway has de-silted and cleaned 113 Kms of drains on its suburban section.
Cleaning of culverts
CR has cleaned 77 culverts on its suburban sections, 55 culverts on its main line and 22 culverts on its Harbour line.
Important nallah cleaning
CR has cleaned it’s very important nallahs between Ghatkopar and Kanjurmarg, Ghatkopar and Vikhroli and Kurla Terminal Nallah.
Ghat Section – Boulder scanning and dropping
Central Railway on its North East Section i.e. between Kasara and Igatpuri, 18 Tunnels were inspected, Boulder scanning was done, 40 no. of boulders have been identified and dropped. Moreover, 50 Watchmen are being deployed at 14 locations and 75 Patrolmen are being deployed at 7 beats to keep watch 24×7 and to avoid any disruption to traffic.
Central Railway on its South East Section i.e. between Karjat and Lonavala, 52 Tunnels were inspected, Boulder scanning was done. Moreover, 74 Watchmen are being deployed at different locations and 54 Patrolmen are being deployed at identified beats to keep a watch 24×7 and to avoid any disruption to traffic.
Another innovative initiative is the construction of Tunnel portal extensions of tunnel no. 48 & 31 in South East Ghat section. This will prevent the falling of Boulders on Track.
Capacity augmentation of the waterway
Pipe pushing via micro tunnelling between Kurla and Vidyavihar stations, two pipelines with 1.8 metre diameter of 70-metre-long have been pushed taking advantage of the lockdown increasing the capacity of culvert.
Augmentation of waterway of existing bridge with insertion of RCC Boxes between Vadala and Raoli section will increase the waterway capacity.
Similarly, the waterway is augmented at Tilak Nagar Bridge with the insertion of RCC Boxes at Tilak Nagar Station creating a 4.9-metre extra opening to increase the waterway capacity. Also, enhancement of bridge waterway by insertion of RCC Box adjacent to existing bridge between Panvel and Karjat has increased the waterway capacity and 1.8-meter diameter pipe was pushed between Badlapur and Vangani to increase the water flow.
Taking advantage of the lockdown, Central Railway has replaced the steel girder with PSB slab of the important Waldhuni Bridge.
New Initiatives
· MSF Jawans + RPF Staff as quick response teams.
· A RPF Flood Rescue Team is being formed in collaboration with NDRF.
· Critical FOBs identified & staff deployed for crowd control.
· Re-roofing of platforms (9 Stations completed) – CSMT suburban PFs, Tilaknagar, LTT, Mankhurd, Sion, Guru Teg Bahadur Nagar, Masjid, Sandhurst Road, Reay Road.
· Improvements to platform surfaces (10 Stations completed): CSMT, LTT, Kalyan, Khadavli, Asangaon, Igatpuri, Palasdhari, Matheran, Badlapur, Chunabhatti
· Extension of Cover over platform (5 Nos platforms completed) – Panvel, Sandhurst Road, Reay Road, Cotton Green, Diva
· A Workshop on Crowd Management also conducted.
· CCTVs at vulnerable locations in GHAT with flood lights.
· Improved communication system in Tunnel and Ghat. (leaky cable and VHF)
· Additional static watchmen at vulnerable locations
