Mumbai rains: Water seeping through Jogeshwari metro roof, flooding near Aarey metro sparks criticism from Mumbaikars

A flooded subway near the Aarey Metro car shed and rainwater leaking through the roof of the Jogeshwari Metro station during Wednesday’s heavy rains sparked significant criticism from citizens.

The flooding at the Aarey subway raised concerns about the construction of the Metro 3 car shed, which environmentalists argue is located in a vital green space for the city.

Tasneem Shaikh, a resident of Jogeshwari-Vikhroli Link Road, reported that the water currents were so strong that the subway, adjacent to the Metro Line 3 car shed, had to be closed by sunset. “It was completely flooded and remained shut all night, making it difficult for people to navigate through the currents,” she said.


Aarey conservation activist Amrita Bhattacharjee noted that the water was so forceful that a person on a scooter fell into it.

“Luckily, he was rescued by others, but then his scooter got stuck in the culvert,” she told ToI.

Jogeshwari metro stations:
The leaking of Jogeshwari Metro station roof led to many on social media calling out Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) for poor construction.

The second phase of Metro Line 7 and 2A (Gundavali-Dahisar-Andheri West) was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Jan 20, 2023, following the opening of the first phase by then chief minister Uddhav Thackeray on April 22, 2022.

In response to the backlash, Maha Mumbai Metro Operation Corporation Ltd (MMMOCL) issued an apology on X (formerly Twitter), stating: “We sincerely apologise for the water leakage at the metro station. This occurred due to heavy rains that dislodged storm water pipes in some areas because of excessive water pressure. The issue was promptly addressed, and repairs were completed last night by our team, despite the ongoing heavy rainfall.”

X user Marisha Thakur commented with a post: “Tragic indeed! I wish we stopped invoking the spirit of Bombay when the infrastructure around it is crumbling.”

Another X handle @Blues_ Blue34 posted: “The kind of downpour our city experiences in short bursts can overwhelm any infrastructure. Even Dubai struggles! But yes, it’s tough for daily Mumbaikars.”