The Andheri subway has experienced up to 28 closures this monsoon season due to flooding. The closures last anywhere between 15 minutes and four hours. In response, Andheri West Constituency MLA Ameet Satam sent a letter to Additional Municipal Commissioner Abhijit Bangar on Monday, August 12.
Earlier, on August 8, Satam visited the Andheri subway along with ward authorities and storm water drain (SWD) officials to assess the problem. During the inspection, it was discovered that water from the east side was flowing towards the west, causing the subway to flood.
In his letter, Satam highlighted the issues of the situation. He criticised the previous attempts to solve the issue through microtunnelling. He claimed that this project, costing INR 600 crore, would be unfeasible and not advisable.
He also mentioned that an earlier INR 140 crore microtunnelling project, intended to connect the Andheri subway to the Bhardawadi culvert, was scrapped by then-Municipal Commissioner Ajoy Mehta. However, the project was deemed unrealistic by the IIT.
Satam provided many alternative solutions. One suggestion was about creating a holding point or tank on the east side to collect water before it could enter the subway. This way is similar to the one used at the Milan Subway.
Another proposal was to channel the water into the culvert near the Millionaire Building in Andheri West. He also suggested expanding and upgrading the SWD network on SV Road. In addition, Satam proposed expanding a nearby nullah. He recommended creating rainwater collection trenches within the SWD network to absorb as much water as possible.
Furthermore, he suggested improving the existing sewer network on the east side to reduce the amount of sewage water entering the system. These measures were presented as alternatives to reduce closures during the monsoon, which saw 21 traffic closures last year.
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