Rs 10 lakh fine on 4 mini pumping station operators for waterlogging after Mumbai rains

The Mumbai civic body has imposed a penalty of Rs 10 lakh each on the operators of four mini pumping stations for failing to install and operate pumps to clear the water accumulated at key junctions here following heavy rains.

Mumbai witnessed on Monday, which caused waterlogging in several low-lying areas and led to the suspension of suburban train services on some routes.

Vehicular traffic was affected due to waterlogging in areas like King's Circle, Mantralaya, Dadar TT East, Parel TT, Kalachowki, Wadala, Hindmata, Kemps Corner, Churchgate, Chinchpokali and Dadar.

In a release issued late Tuesday evening, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) said mini pumping station operators at four points -- Hindmata, Gandhi Market, Yellow Gate and Chunabhatti -- all located in low-lying areas prone to waterlogging, were penalised Rs 10 lakh each.

As per the tender conditions, the operators must have set up mini pumping stations at these locations and made them operational before 25 May as part of the city's pre-monsoon preparedness plan, it said.

On Monday, as Mumbai was affected by a heavy downpour, the Acharya Atre Chowk Aqualine Station experienced water seepage through an under-construction entry point. In a statement to the press, @AshwiniBhide ,MD, MMRC, provides clarity on the cause of flooding and the necessary… pic.twitter.com/eCJ7bDTO4m

— MumbaiMetro3 (@MumbaiMetro3) May 27, 2025

Metro station inaugurated only 17 days ago looks like a war zone on the 1st day of rains.

Congrarulations, Mumbai. 👏👏pic.twitter.com/cKmd2QOiFB

— Kunal Purohit (@kunalpurohit) May 26, 2025

"As per the monsoon planning made by the BMC, the operators of the mini pumping stations appointed to pump water from low-lying areas failed to set up the system as per the terms and conditions and did not operate it with full capacity," the release said.

The civic body has set up 10 mini pumping stations across Mumbai to address waterlogging issues, especially in flood-prone low-lying areas with operations contracted out to private agencies, it added.

However, during the "record rainfall" on 26 May, with several areas receiving up to 250 mm rain within 13 hours, the pumping systems at these locations failed to operate effectively, leading to waterlogging and traffic disruptions, it said.

The failure to timely and adequately drain water affected vehicular movement in some areas and briefly disrupted suburban train services near Masjid station, according to the BMC.

It said Chunabhatti received comparatively less rainfall, but pumps there were not functioning at full capacity, prompting the civic body to include the site in the punitive action.

Any negligence or lapses in monsoon management will not be tolerated and will invite strict action, the BMC said.