Stat In a bid to mitigate flooding during the upcoming monsoon, BMC will deploy 547 dewatering pumps across vulnerable locations in the city on a hire basis. The civic body has floated a two-year contract for the same at a cost of Rs 142 crores. Of the total, 146 pumps will be stationed in the city area, 223 in western suburbs and 178 in eastern suburbs.In addition to the hired pumps, 26 departmental dewatering pump sets of various capacities will also be put to use. Due to inadequate staff availability in the SWD Workshop, these pumps are operated and maintained by the appointed contractual agency, the tender states.The number of pumps being deployed this year is higher when compared to the 504 pumps deployed last monsoon. Civic officials said that these pumps will be stationed at flood-prone and low-lying areas. The comprehensive Operation and Maintenance (O&M) period is scheduled from May 25 to Oct 15, 2026, covering the core monsoon window.Dewatering pumps play a critical role in Mumbai’s flood management system, particularly as several parts of the city lie below sea level. These pumps are designed to quickly remove excess rainwater from waterlogged areas by lifting and discharging it into nearby drains, rivers, or directly into the sea.
