As Bengaluru wrestles with increasingly frequent and disruptive flooding, experts warn that conventional stormwater drains alone won’t cut it anymore. Knight Frank India, in a new report, urges the city to adopt integrated and innovative drainage systems inspired by global models that merge engineering with ecology.

Bengaluru’s rapid growth—an average economic expansion of 8.5% in the past decade—has intensified pressure on its natural drainage networks. Unchecked urban sprawl, poor planning, and the lack of comprehensive drainage mapping have only worsened waterlogging during heavy rains. Assistant VP of Research at Knight Frank India, Shilpashree Venkatesh, highlighted that construction inside buffer zones further restricts water flow.

To chart a path forward, Bengaluru can borrow ideas from:

Japan’s massive flood tunnels:
Tokyo’s Metropolitan Area Outer Underground Discharge Channel—a 50-meter-deep anti-flood system—uses giant silos and tunnels to divert excess stormwater. It’s so iconic it doubles as a tourist attraction, helping fund upkeep.

Seoul’s stream revival:
The Cheonggyecheon Stream Restoration Project tore down a highway to revive a waterway. It not only tamed floods but cooled the city by up to 5.9°C and improved biodiversity by 639%, while spurring real estate and tourism.

China’s sponge cities:
Shanghai and Wuhan absorb rain where it falls—via wetlands, green roofs, and porous pavements. These cities are turning into sponges, managing floods while replenishing groundwater and cleaning urban air.

Bengaluru’s future flood resilience lies in adopting such hybrid, multi-benefit approaches.