Mumbai’s ambitious underground Metro Line 3 came under public scrutiny this week after images surfaced of plastic sheets and tarpaulin draped across the entry and exit points of stations under construction.
The makeshift coverings, seen after heavy rainfall triggered flooding at one of the line’s key underground sites, raised concerns about the resilience of the city’s infrastructure ahead of the monsoon.Responding to public queries and media reports, Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation (MMRC) Managing Director Ashwini Bhide issued a clarification on Tuesday, asserting that the use of plastic rainproof material at under-construction metro sites is standard industry practice. She explained that such measures are routinely undertaken in Mumbai to safeguard workers and ongoing civil works during the monsoon season, not as a last-minute fix.
“This is part of the usual practice being followed at under construction sites during Mumbai’s monsoon so that the construction activity can continue safely even during rains,” Bhide stated on social media platform X, formerly Twitter.The clarification follows a Midday report highlighting the presence of tarpaulin at metro station entry points, which surfaced after a section of the underground corridor—between Acharya Atre Chowk and Worli—was temporarily shut down due to waterlogging on May 26.
According to MMRC, the flooding at Acharya Atre Chowk station was not the result of faulty metro construction but was caused by “back-charging” of water from the city’s storm water drainage network during unusually intense rainfall. Bhide pointed out that Mumbai received 90 mm of rain in just 90 minutes that day, a volume compounded by the occurrence of a high tide, pushing the city’s already stressed drainage infrastructure beyond its limits.Urban transport experts, however, say that such episodes highlight a deeper issue. “Temporary rainproofing may be industry practice, but what we’re witnessing is a system still adapting to climate extremes. Infrastructure resilience cannot rely on tarpaulin,” said a civil engineer involved with metro construction projects in other Indian cities.
The incident has reignited debates around monsoon preparedness and the pace at which essential infrastructure like Metro Line 3 is being made resilient to Mumbai’s changing climate. The 33.5-km underground corridor, often referred to as the city’s “transport spine,” is expected to decongest traffic and reduce air pollution by promoting a shift to electric public transport. However, the disruptions caused by flooding at an early stage have raised red flags for commuters, urban planners, and environmentalists alike.MMRC officials maintain that all stations are being built with long-term flood mitigation systems and drainage integration. “Construction is still underway at several points. Once complete, these temporary measures will be replaced with permanent drainage, vent shafts, and waterproofing solutions as per international standards,” said an official familiar with the project.
With the monsoon just beginning, all eyes are now on how Mumbai’s infrastructure, especially projects still in the development phase, will cope with the pressures of intense rainfall, high tides, and outdated city drainage networks.While Bhide’s clarification may address procedural doubts, the larger question remains: can India’s financial capital truly future-proof its mass transit systems against the monsoon, or will it continue to rely on temporary shields and reactive fixes?
As the city braces for more downpours, the incident serves as a reminder that sustainability and safety in urban transport require not just engineering expertise, but civic accountability and climate foresight.
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