Patil today convened a meetng of high level officials including Industrial Development Commissioner A H Khan, officers of the Central and Western railways, traffic police department, BEST, Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation, Maharashtra State Electricity Board and Brihanmumbai Suburban Electricity Supply engineers, weather bureau, city and suburban collectors. The officials reviewed the measures recommended by DMP and how it could be implemented effectively.

``BMC is prepared to tackle emergencies. BEST has agreed to keep nearly a hundred buses on standby to ferry stranded passengers. The railways have agreed to operate the trains until the water reaches up to four inches above the tracks,'' informed Patil, adding that up-to-date information on the flow of railway traffic will be given to the BMC.

Patil said arapid action team with 10 labourers and an engineer will be available around the clock to deal with flooding problems or emergency situation situation in every ward. ``They will be provided with vehicles and instrument to handle emergencies,'' added Patil.

Patil said he had spoken to union representatives and road traffic authorities and asked them to keep a strict vigil on taxis and rickshaw drivers who take undue advantage of stranded commuters by hiking fares.

Control rooms will be set up by the police, collectors, BEST, Mantralaya and MHADA. ``They will relay information to the BMC main control. There will also be zonal civic rooms. BMC will make arrangements in its schools for stranded commuters.''

At a meeting with the additional chief secretary (home) on Friday, it was decided to coordinate with the media including Doordarshan, cable network, FM radio, pager services, to inform people about the traffic situation on roads and tracks.

The Mayor said besides the ones at Haji Ali and GirgaumChowpatty, more remote controlled panels displaying emergency messages from all public utility agencies will be installed at Flora Fountain, Dadar Circle, Sion Circle, Suman Nagar, Chembur and Vile Parle junction.