‘Masjid tracks may flood again’Mumbai: The BMC fears tracks at Masjid Bunder station and surrounding areas may go under water this monsoon, like every year. It says an inspection of the railways’ nullah cleaning work has found that the culvert under Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel bridge, in middle of Sandhurst Road and Masjid Bunder stations, is yet to be cleaned completely. Worse, construction debris and junk has been dumped inside the area. “Every year the station at Masjid Bunder goes under water, but this year water may take time to recede. Despite repeated warnings these obstructions have not been removed,” said a senior official from the local ward office. Officials from Central Railway denied the charges and said the culvert was cleaned at least a week back. “Three days ago there was a joint inspection with the BMC and its commissioner, he himself agreed the spot was clean so I really don’t know what the noise is about,” said a senior railway official. The railways and BMC have been at loggerheads over cleaning of nullahs and culverts on Railway property. CR, planned to desilt 99,166m of drains and clean 83 culverts, and claims it has completed most of the work except two or three spots, including Nanipada nullah at Mulund and Kurla’s carshed nullah. A few days ago, an internal BMC report said shoddy work on the extension of the Harbour Line between Andheri and Goregaon may cause flooding in parts of the western suburbs. 
Garbage and debris near
the tracks at Masjid Bunder station
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