Bengaluru’s Manyata Tech Park floods again — time for nature-based urban design

Last week’s heavy rain once more turned Manyata Tech Park into a shallow lake, with some spots submerged under two feet of water. This flooding is not new—less than eight months ago, a similar deluge inundated the 300-acre campus, highlighting a persistent problem.

Manyata sits in the Hebbal-Nagavara valley, just below several lakes like Nagavara and Rachenahalli, through which water naturally flows downstream to lakes such as Kalkere. These lakes and drains were originally designed to manage seasonal runoff. But now, with urban expansion and concrete replacing natural soil, rainwater no longer soaks in—it rushes into already overloaded drains, some carrying treated or untreated wastewater year-round.

Simply enlarging drains won’t fix the issue; it would only shift flooding downstream. Instead, stormwater must be captured, stored, and slowly released or absorbed into the ground—mimicking natural water cycles. This approach can reduce flooding and replenish groundwater, which Manyata’s area critically needs.

Bengaluru has a history of public-private collaboration on urban issues, such as the Tender S.U.R.E road design initiative and corporate-sponsored lake restoration. Now, tech and real estate leaders at Manyata have a chance to pioneer nature-based solutions (NBS) to address flooding sustainably.

Global examples, like Kigali in Rwanda, show how combining NBS with hydraulic infrastructure can reduce flood-prone areas by up to 100%. Techniques include using lakes, wetlands, bioswales, rain gardens, green roofs, urban forests, and permeable pavements—all of which help absorb rainwater, filter pollutants, and recharge groundwater.

At Manyata, the vast campus can be retrofitted with rain gardens under flyovers and open spaces to store and infiltrate water. Road dividers can be transformed into canals with reedbeds for natural filtration, releasing water gradually through sluice gates to prevent downstream overload. Vegetated bioswales along roads can slow runoff and improve water quality. Buildings can install green roofs and walls to capture rainwater and reduce heat, lessening the strain on groundwater supplies.

With strategic investment and coordination between planners, corporate leaders, and government, Manyata can turn its flooding challenge into an opportunity. It can become a model for urban flood management in Bengaluru and beyond, showcasing how blue-green infrastructure can handle large volumes of water sustainably.

Moving away from hard concrete surfaces and embracing natural systems, Manyata can reduce flooding, mitigate climate impacts, and help Bengaluru regain its reputation for smart water management.

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