Centre sanctions ₹275 crore funding for Bengaluru’s urban flood control project

To address Bengaluru’s persistent flooding woes, the Centre has cleared a ₹275 crore proposal under the National Disaster Mitigation Fund, with a focus on drainage upgrades and early warning systems.

In a major step towards flood-proofing Bengaluru, the Central Government has sanctioned ₹275 crore for the Urban Flood Risk Management Programme (UFRMP). Recommended by the 15th Finance Commission, the funding has been sanctioned under the National Disaster Mitigation Fund (NDMF) to enhance Bengaluru’s infrastructure and reduce its vulnerability to frequent monsoon-induced flooding.

The proposal, submitted by the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), outlines a multi-pronged approach to managing urban floods. Of the total ₹275 crore, ₹247.25 crore is earmarked for structural works, primarily aimed at upgrading the city’s stormwater drainage network. The remaining ₹27.75 crore will go towards non-structural solutions like flood modelling, real-time early warning systems, and capacity-building initiatives.

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The Centre will contribute ₹238.72 crore, while the Karnataka Government will provide ₹26.53 crore. An additional ₹9.75 crore will be drawn from the State Disaster Response Fund under its Preparedness & Capacity Building component. The approval was granted on July 25, 2024, and the first installment of ₹71.62 crore was released to the state on December 6, 2024, enabling groundwork to begin in high-risk zones.

This move places Bengaluru alongside other metros like Hyderabad, Pune, and Ahmedabad, which were each allocated ₹250 crore, while larger allocations of ₹500 crore were given to Mumbai, Chennai, and Kolkata under the same programme.

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Officials believe this initiative will shift the city’s flood response strategy from reactive to preventive. With climate change intensifying rainfall events and urban infrastructure lagging behind, this project aims to build long-term resilience through science-backed planning and timely intervention.

As the city continues to grow, experts stress that such central support is critical for implementing integrated, city-wide solutions to manage waterlogging and protect lives and property during extreme weather events.

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