Having learnt a lesson from the last monsoon when Mumbai was cut-off from Gujarat and Delhi for three days due to excessive flooding on the water tracks, the Western Railway (WR) is investing on automatic rain gauge machines (ARGs) this year for better rain prediction. The WR authorities are installing 10 more rain gauge machines built by their engineers, apart from the six ARGs that is being fixed at stations with help of Indian Metrological Department (IMD).
According to sources in WR, the authorities have already installed new ARGs at Dadar and Andheri stations. "These machines have been fitted on the roofs of station buildings. They have an internal unit that will help us monitor rainfall, wind speed and other details required for us to make a prompt decision regarding train-operations," said a WR official.
Grant Road, Bandra, Goregaon, Santacruz, Borivali, Vasai, Nallasopara and Virar are some other stations where ARGs will be installed. The officials also claim that they have barely spent around Rs 5.75 lakh on all the 10 ARGs together put in.
KEEPING A COUNT
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- 16 – Number of railway stations between Churchgate and Virar where ARGs have been installed
- 10 – Number of ARGs prepared by WR by in-house engineers
- 36 – Number of flood gauges installed next to tracks
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These new rain gauge machines are different from the ones installed with help of IMD. The WR has already installed the first such ARG at Bhayander on May 11. The stations where rain gauges shall be installed would be Ram Mandir, Mahalaxmi, Bandra, Dahisar and Mira Road.
This ARG is fitted with a solar panel so that it continues to function and generate data in case of disruption of electric supply due to waterlogging. This data will be sent directly to the railway control room from where they monitor trains. Operations of trains will depend heavily on this data.
This equipment will allow the WR authorities to monitor the rain-fall on a real-time basis, without human intervention. They will also decide if trains need to head towards the stabling lines and not get stranded on tracks due to waterlogging.
Whenever the rains would cross danger mark, then automatically the rain gauge will reflect it on their system. This time around 36 flood gauge with red danger marks has been fitted next to rail lines on Churchgate-Virar route. This will help the train controllers to determine the schedule of trains and inform the motormen/guard about the same. It shall then be relayed to the passengers inside coaches through passenger information system.
These steps have been taken on the basis of studies done which determines data of rainfall in low lying areas all the way back to 50 years.
