Mumbai: The BMC has decided to construct a retaining wall on both sides of the pedestrian underpass (PUP) of the Coastal Road project, which serves as the only access to the Haji Ali Dargah. According to civic officials, the wall will prevent high tide waters from entering the underpass and flooding it during the monsoon season.
This measure aims to ensure that devotees can safely access the Dargah without the inconvenience caused by water accumulation in the underpass.
In April 2024, the pedestrian underpass leading to the Haji Ali Dargah was flooded due to a high tide, which caused the shrine to be shut for three hours. This highlighted the urgent need for preventive measures to ensure uninterrupted access to the Dargah, particularly during the monsoon season.
A senior civic official stated, “We have asked Larson and Toubro (L&T) to prepare a design of the wall and expected cost of the work. Currently, the plan is in its initial stage, but we want to expedite it before the monsoon.”
The 10 km Coastal Road features around 20 Pedestrian Underpasses (PUPs) providing access to various locations. The civic officials acknowledged that seawater is likely to enter the underpass on high tide days, and when the underpass is in use during such times, access will be blocked.
To address this, the BMC also undertook construction of main stormwater drains along the Haji Ali Coastal Road’s pedestrian underpass to prevent seawater from entering.
