Bengaluru Misses Out on Advanced Weather Radar as Mangaluru Takes the Lead

Bengaluru’s long-standing demand for a cutting-edge Doppler weather radar remains unfulfilled due to delays in land allocation. The city has now lost its chance to host Karnataka’s first advanced radar, as Mangaluru moves ahead with its installation at Shakti Nagar.

Despite Bengaluru facing frequent flash floods and erratic rainfall, the absence of an advanced radar has left the city dependent on forecasts from radars in Chennai and Goa, which are often inaccurate due to distance. Although Union minister Shobha Karandlaje secured approval for a radar in Bengaluru in July 2024, the state government’s inability to finalise a suitable 30x30ft plot has stalled progress.

IMD initially considered Nandi Hills for the radar but faced logistical challenges. Later, a site near Magadi Road was identified, but it overlaps with a government school’s property. The education department’s pending decision has further delayed the project. Meanwhile, Mangaluru’s radar, expected to be operational by March 2025, will have a 250km range, offering precise predictions of sudden rain.

IMD plans additional installations, including a Doppler radar at Ballari and an X-band radar at Dharwad, in the coming months. Experts emphasize that a functional radar in Bengaluru is critical to enhancing weather prediction accuracy for the city’s rapidly growing population.

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