Bengaluru gets Rs 247 crore for flood prevention, but civic officials unsure of results in 2025

Bengaluru: With monsoon a couple of months away, BBMP has secured Rs 247 crore under the National Disaster Mitigation Fund (NDMF) to build infrastructure for a flood-resistant future. However, civic officials are unsure if the result of the works taken up will be visible this year as the process is still at a nascent stage.
Works to be taken up include building stormwater drains in flood-affected areas from previous years and other necessary infrastructure to ensure the smooth flow of rainwater, without disturbing the city's daily activities. As part of it, Rs 75 crore is being set aside for the rejuvenation of five major lakes. The civic body has called for tenders, and work is expected to start by next month.
BS Prahlad, chief engineer (road infrastructure), BBMP, said, "We were waiting for the fund for the last two years. The govt approved it but we got confirmation by the end of Jan. We have called for tenders and are waiting; mostly, we expect to start work by the end of next month."
The fund was granted by the central govt after the mess and hardships the city went through during the previous year's floods. City roads turning into rivers and upscale neighbourhoods submerging under a few feet of water has become a regular monsoon feature in Bengaluru. Between Aug and Sept last year, relentless rains lashed the city, leading to severe flooding in areas like Bellandur, Sarjapur Road, Whitefield, and Yelahanka. The Outer Ring Road — home to major tech parks — came to a standstill, leaving employees stranded for hours. Residents ended up using boats and tractors to commute for daily amenities. "Everybody knows how the city suffered because of heavy rains last year. It's a good thing that we were allocated funds, but we will not be able to use the funds very fast. This fund will play a major role for the coming year's monsoon. This year's monsoon, we are not sure as it's still at the starting stage," Prahlad said.
A comprehensive study was conducted to identify flood-prone points and vulnerable areas. He added, "The fund will be released zone-wise. After thorough inspection and survey study, we selected the areas and Yelahanka zone was granted the most funds."