Did Intense Rainfall Cause Water Seepage at Metro Station?

Mumbai, May 26 (NationPress) In response to mounting criticism from the opposition regarding the flooding of the newly inaugurated Worli Acqua Line metro station, the Mumbai Metropolitan Rail Corporation (MMRC) issued a statement on Monday. They explained that the recent and heavy rainfall resulted in water seepage at the under-construction entry/exit structure of the Acharya Atrey Chowk station, situated along Dr. Annie Besant Road in Worli.

The flooding incident occurred when the RCC water-retaining wall at the entry/exit collapsed due to a sudden influx of water from an adjacent utility.

“We want to emphasize that the section of the entry/exit experiencing water seepage is still under construction and is not open to the public. As a precautionary step to ensure the safety of passengers, train services between Worli and Acharya Atrey Chowk have been temporarily halted. However, services from Aarey JVLR to Worli remain unaffected and are operating as usual. Our engineering and safety teams are actively addressing the situation,” stated the MMRC.

The agency expressed regret for the inconvenience faced by commuters and requested their understanding, reaffirming that safety is their utmost priority, and services will resume only when all systems are secure and operational.

Previously, passengers struggled to exit the Acharya Atrey Chowk station, which became inundated due to rainwater seepage.

The unexpected flooding forced authorities to limit metro services, with trains only operating up to Worli and not reaching Acharya Atrey Chowk. Social media images of waterlogged platforms drew significant criticism from passengers and opposition parties.

Shiv Sena UBT leader Aaditya Thackeray remarked that this was not the first instance of rain-related issues.

“Just last week, the Andheri subway was flooded. The government and BMC are accountable for Mumbai’s condition. The city suffers due to the corruption of the ruling parties in the BMC and the control exercised from Mantralaya. What has the so-called 'Infra Man' contributed to the city?” he said.

Additionally, the Mumbai Regional Congress Committee chief Varsha Gaikwad criticized the state government.

In her post on X, she stated: “The recently inaugurated Mumbai Metro 3! The much-touted underground metro is now flooded, with water leaking from the ceiling and flowing down the stairs. The Acharya Atrey station is closed, and services are suspended! Does the Mahavikas Aghadi even care about the dangers posed by a submerged underground metro? Why were these precautions not implemented? How can the public trust underground metro travel during heavy rain? The government must be held accountable; we demand basic safety, not just grand inaugurations.”