A City That Waits on the Tide
One of the most unique challenges Mumbai faces lies in its relationship with the sea. The city’s drainage system doesn’t work in isolation.It works in coordination with the tides. During high tide, seawater is prevented from entering the city using lock gates, but this also means rainwater can’t flow out easily. If heavy rains coincide with high tide, pumping stations are the only way to clear flooded streets and they’re often overwhelmed, leaving low-lying areas waterlogged for hours.
Built on Reclaimed Land, Prone to Water Logging
Mumbai wasn’t always one seamless city. Originally a cluster of seven islands, decades of land reclamation created today’s urban sprawl—but also its biggest problem. The reclaimed land led to the formation of several low-lying zones, which naturally collect rainwater. These are supposed to be drained using an intricate storm water system. But when the rain comes fast and hard, the system buckles under pressure.
Rainfall Patterns Are Changing Fast
This year’s rains have already smashed century-old records. Colaba witnessed 135.4 mm of rain in just 24 hours classified as "very heavy rainfall" breaking a record set back in 1918. The city logged 295 mm rainfall in May, the highest in over 100 years. And in a twist that caught the city off-guard, the Southwest Monsoon arrived 16 days early, marking the earliest onset in nearly two decades. This compressed, intense rainfall pattern is a new normal for Mumbai and the current infrastructure just isn’t built for it.
Pre-Monsoon Work Left in the Lurch
Early rain also disrupted critical pre-monsoon preparations. The BMC (Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation) follows a set timeline for desisting and cleaning drains, but this year the monsoon beat the clock. Officials admit that cleaning operations were still underway, further compounding the city’s flooding issues.
A Drainage System Stuck in the Past
After the catastrophic 2005 floods, Mumbai promised itself a drainage overhaul the Brimstone Project. It aimed to replace the archaic 19th-century network with wider, modern storm water drains and more pumping stations. But nearly 20 years later, the project is still incomplete. Encroachments and legal hurdles have delayed construction, leaving gaping holes in the city’s flood-prevention defenses.
The Cost of Delay: Yearly Disasters
Every year, the story repeats: flooded streets, stranded trains, homes damaged, and lives disrupted. And every year, citizens ask the same question. how long before Mumbai is ready for the rain?
Until the city gets serious about completing its infrastructure projects and adapting to climate change, Mumbai bikers may continue to brave these monsoon nightmares one season at a time.
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