Heavy rains continued to lash Mumbai on Sunday for the second consecutive day causing water-logging in many areas.

Most city dwellers chose not to step out with heavy rains being witnessed across the city.

There was water-logging in many parts of the city. However, road traffic remained largely unaffected due to a low number of vehicles on roads.

Services on the suburban rail lines were also affected with trains running late. But there has been no stoppage due to the rain yet, said the railway police.

Relief for stranded motorists:
Motorists stuck in traffic jams following heavy rains in the city may soon be able to wheel their cars to strategic parking locations along arterial routes and come back to claim them during calmer weather.

"We have asked the police to finalise 20 such locations for vehicles, which can be parked if the roads are clogged due to heavy rains," Chief Secretary Johnny Joseph said.

The plots for parking would be located on arterial routes like highways and other important routes used by vehicular traffic and could be utilised by private vehicle owners, he said.

Most motor traffic movement in the city either exists in the north-south corridors, between the suburbs to south Mumbai where most offices and businesses are located, or between the eastern to western suburbs.

Joseph said the idea of having such parking plots was thought of after the deluge on July 26, 2005 when hundreds of motorists abandoned their vehicles on highways due to water-logging, resulting in a lot of time being spent in clearing roads clogged with parked vehicles.

"The police will identify the plots and the access for the same will either be provided by the BMC (Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation) or the authority in charge of the plot," Joseph said.

The plots would be made available only during emergency circumstances and not on a daily basis, as parking lots are in short supply in many parts of the city.

The motorists who park their cars would be expected to use public or other private modes of transport to get to their destination.

Image: Buses go through a flooded road as cycles and two-wheelers lie submerged in water, in the low-lying area near Grant Road station, in Mumbai.
Reportage: PTI | Photograph: PTI Photo