With monsoon still a few months away, the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) has secured ₹247 crore from the National Disaster Mitigation Fund (NDMF) to bolster the city’s flood resilience. However, civic officials admit the impact of these measures might not be seen in the upcoming rainy season, as the groundwork is still in its early phase.
Key works include the construction of stormwater drains in flood-prone areas and essential infrastructure upgrades to ensure smooth rainwater flow, without disrupting the city’s daily life. Out of the total amount, ₹75 crore has been earmarked for rejuvenating five major lakes.
Tenders have been floated, and work is expected to begin by next month. “We had been waiting for this funding for nearly two years. Although approval came earlier, the official confirmation only arrived in late January,” said BBMP’s chief road infrastructure engineer, B S Prahlad.
The funding was granted by the central government in response to last year’s flood chaos, where tech corridors and posh localities like Bellandur, Sarjapur Road, Whitefield, and Yelahanka were submerged. Between August and September, heavy rains left roads waterlogged, forced tech workers to abandon vehicles, and turned boats and tractors into emergency transport.
A comprehensive study helped identify flood-vulnerable zones, with Yelahanka receiving the highest allocation due to its repeated flood incidents.
“While the funding is timely and crucial, the actual results may be visible only in the following year’s monsoon,” Prahlad added.
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