Part of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation’s (BMC) flood-mitigation plan for Mumbai involves increasing the carrying capacity of underground stormwater drains, involving digging up newly concreted roads across the city. At present, 95 per cent of Mumbai’s over 2000 km underground drain network has been enhanced to a carrying capacity of 55 mm of rainfall per hour, from 25 mm, as per the recommendations of the Chitale Committee report following the 2005 deluge in Mumbai.

In January 2023, BMC finalised its Rs 17,000-crore plan to concrete 692 km of Mumbai’s roads. To avoid digging newly concreted stretches, the civic body plans to replace drains only where there is no other option to abate waterlogging. “Sites will be selected after careful study, and drains will be augmented only where required. However, all infrastructure development work that is necessary is an ongoing process for a city like Mumbai,” said Additional Municipal Commissioner Abhijit Bangar.