Local train makes special nightly runs to collect muck

AFTER the last train local train of the day crosses past city limits and railway stations wear a deserted look, one local train has been making a special nightly run. Operating fully loaded for the past month, it stops every few kilometres to pick up more of its special load — sacks of mud, silt and debris.

In a first, Central Railway is using an EMU or a local train rake instead of a wagon train as its special monsoon muck train, which is an annual feature of the Railway's preparations for the monsoon. Running every night for the past month, this nine-car train carries approximately 2,000 gunny bags during its two-and-a-half hour run between 1 am and 4 am.

Until now, it has carried around 60,000 bags kept near the tracks by workers cleaning the track-side drains, whose smooth flow is key to ensuring that the city's lifeline continues to run through heavy rains.

The bags are eventually dumped in Vashi and Mumbra. Usually, a wagon train was used as muck special. The wagon trains require two engines attached on the front and back of the train and due to lack of engines the wagon could not be put into service to transport muck. On the other hand, local train has driver cabin on both ends.

Most of the Central Railway areas are low-line, hence prone to floods. Before gearing up for the monsoons, close monitoring is a must in these areas and the only measure is to give more and more access to stormwater, which can be done by cleaning. After cleaning the culvert or nallahs, muck, silt and mud are filled in bags, so that they are not scattered here or on the tracks.

The BMC has given Rs 100 crore to Central Railway for cleaning 83 culverts and other work. "Joint inspections have been done by officials of the Railways and BMC on many spots last Friday and the remaining inspections will soon be organised. The first round of cleaning these culverts has been completed. The second round will be completed on June 7. Work of cleaning 100 side drains at main and harbour lines were completed on May 31. Cleaning of critical areas has been done and the remaining work will be completed till June 7. Close monitoring is being done on critical flood-prone areas," said Rahul Jain, Divisional Railway Manager, Mumbai Division of Central Railway.

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