The Thane district administration has directed Central Railway and the Thane Municipal Corporation to jointly inspect and prepare a time-bound plan to address recurring flooding at the Chendani Koliwada subway, where tidal water enters during high tide and heavy rain. The subway is a key east-west connection in Thane and the flooding has created safety, health and traffic risks for residents.
The directions followed a complaint from Girish Salgaokar, president of the Thane Gaothan and Koliwada Pada Conservation Committee. The administration took serious note of complaints that accumulated water makes the route difficult or impossible to use for pedestrians, women, students, senior citizens and persons with disabilities. Emergency services can also face obstruction when the underpass is flooded.
According to the report, the District Disaster Management Authority has asked Central Railway, the civic body and other relevant departments to take urgent action. A joint team comprising representatives of the railway, municipal corporation and district disaster management authority will conduct an on-site inspection of the subway.
The inspection will examine the reasons behind the waterlogging, including stormwater drainage, tidal backflow, drainage capacity, the structure beneath the railway bridge and drainage arrangements in the surrounding area. If tidal water is found to be moving towards the underpass, the authorities have been instructed to consider permanent measures to prevent the backflow.
The possible measures listed in the directions include backflow-control gates, one-way valves, high-capacity pumping systems, storage tanks or pumping stations, and improvements to the drainage network. The report does not specify which intervention will ultimately be selected; that decision is expected to follow the technical assessment.
Until a permanent solution is completed, the authorities have been asked to keep pumping equipment, barriers, warning signs, traffic-control arrangements and alternative routes ready during periods of high tide and heavy rainfall. The administration has also directed that contaminated water be removed promptly and that disinfection and preventive health measures be undertaken where required.
The Thane Municipal Corporation and Central Railway must define responsibilities within their respective jurisdictions and prepare a joint, time-bound action plan. The plan is expected to identify the nature of the work, responsible officers, estimated cost, funding source and completion deadline. The administration has also said that separate technical and financial proposals may be submitted under disaster-risk reduction programmes if necessary.
The directions further call for an early-warning system, public notices and local traffic-control arrangements when flooding is likely. The next step is the joint inspection, after which the agencies are expected to finalise the action plan and identify the measures required to keep the Chendani Koliwada east-west link usable during high tide and heavy rain.