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Severe flooding on a 1.5-km stretch of railway track in Vasai, which disrupted train services on the Virar-Churchgate route, was caused by rampant and unplanned construction in the Vasai-Virar area, according to the Western Railway (WR). The construction on salt pan lands, mangroves, and waterholes, along with choked culverts, has led to rainwater and water from the Pelhar dam overflowing onto the tracks. Despite similar flooding in 2018 and a subsequent report from NEERI and IIT-Bombay, the recommended solutions have not been implemented by the authorities, leading to repeated disruptions.
Unplanned construction and widespread encroachment in the Vasai-Virar region have been cited by Western Railway (WR) as the primary cause of severe waterlogging on a 1.5-km stretch of rail tracks in Vasai. The flooding led to significant disruptions on the busy Virar-Churchgate route, resulting in the cancellation and delay of numerous train services. Advertisement
A WR spokesperson stated that the rampant construction of buildings and encroachment on salt pan lands in Vasai East, as well as on mangroves and waterholes in Nalasopara and Virar, has prevented the natural flow of water. A senior WR official noted that in the past, salt pan lands and green areas acted as a natural barrier, preventing soil erosion and water from reaching the rail lines.
The water, including overflow from the Pelhar Dam, flowed directly onto the railway lines, which were unprotected due to the equal levels of the road and the tracks. Railway engineers reported that the flooding affected 104 points and several signaling poles. Staff had to work in knee-deep water to secure the tracks, a process that took up to 45 minutes on average per point.
Sources within WR also pointed to the haphazard dumping of debris in drains, which has further choked culverts. The resulting waterlogging submerged several residential areas and vehicles, with residents reporting water gushing into the first floors of housing complexes in localities such as Viva College Campus, Sainath Nagar, Bolinj, and Global City.
In response to the latest incident, VVCMC Commissioner Manoj Suryavanshi has stated that a team has been set up to survey the affected areas and that the civic body will take the necessary steps to resolve the issues.
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