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Even as Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) was gearing up for the monsoon deluge, the spate of rains in the last few days has brought the city to its knees. The flooding and widespread waterlogging in the areas under BBMP have exposed critical infrastructure weaknesses and a pointer to the harrowing time that awaits citizens in the months ahead.
The BBMP is transitioning to the Greater Bengaluru Authority, and the city now has a Chief Commissioner (Maheshwar Rao). Former BBMP Commissioner Tushar Giri Nath is the administrator. Bengaluru’s switch to a city free of rain deluges, however, does not promise to be quick or easy. TNM takes a look at some of the areas that have been hit by regular flooding in the previous years and the challenges they face.
Many localities in Bengaluru—including Krishnarajapuram, Bellandur, RT Nagar, Koramangala, Town Hall, and MG Road—have experienced recurring floods over the years. Areas such as Malleshwaram, Yelahanka, and Mahadevapura have been particularly prone to floods during the past three years, suffering loss of life, property damage, and in some cases, forcing relocation.
According to the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), Bengaluru Urban has the highest flood vulnerability index among South Indian cities, with a score of 0.57. While the encroachment of stormwater drains (SWDs) frequently leads to clogging, the problem extends beyond encroachments, revealing deeper infrastructural weaknesses and shortcomings in urban planning.
Rainbow Drive Layout, for example, faced severe flooding in 2022. Situated near Halanayakanahalli and Junnasandra lakes, the locality floods whenever these lakes overflow. Although water is meant to be diverted to Saulkere Lake, the absence of a proper drainage link leaves residents exposed. “When these lakes overflow, water floods the layout, trapping us inside because there is only one entry and exit,” a resident told The News Minute. “Authorities have done nothing so far, and we are unprepared for this monsoon.”
While the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike had announced plans in 2024 to acquire land for constructing tertiary drains, residents report no tangible progress, leaving them vulnerable as rains approach.
Mahadevapura faces similar challenges. Illegal encroachments on rajakaluves and lakebeds have been persistent for over a decade, narrowing natural water channels from 100 feet to just 6–15 feet due to real estate development and concretisation. The Karnataka Land Grabbing Prohibition Special Court had issued a warrant against Executive Engineer (EE) Raghavendra of the Storm Water Drain (SWD) Division, Mahadevapura zone, in 2024, for not issuing a notice to encroachers, but no arrest followed. The court had taken up a suo motu case in 2023 based on news reports. Historically, rainfall up to 100 mm was manageable; now, even 15–25 mm causes serious flooding.
Residents of Whitefield are also bracing for another tough monsoon. Sandeep Anirudhan, Founder, Citizens’ Agenda for Bengaluru, explained that ancient rajakaluves—thousands of years old and designed to follow natural slopes—have been diverted or blocked. “Rajakaluves once spanned 5 to 30 metres, akin to rivers. Today, they have been replaced by drains barely 1 or 2 meters wide,” he said. The rapid disappearance of marshes and swamps—natural wetlands—has also contributed to waterlogging. A local volunteer confirms that SWDs have not been de-silted and encroachments remain unremoved. Chronic traffic jams caused by poor drainage continue in the area.
In contrast, Yelahanka appears to be well prepared. In 2024, Kendriya Vihar experienced water stagnation up to 8 feet due to vault damage and reverse flow of water from across the road. In response, the BBMP, supported by the state government and local bodies, began constructing a large SWD (30x20 feet) to divert water to nearby Jakkur Lake. With 50% of the work completed and expected to finish by November, the secretary of Kendriya Vihar told TNM, “We have cleaned all drains inside and outside and are well prepared to tackle this year’s monsoon.”
BBMP Administrator Tushar Giri Nath had instructed officials to remain vigilant throughout the monsoon and proactively prevent rain-related disasters. In a meeting at Vidhana Soudha with department heads on May 6, 2025, he stated, “There are 209 flood-prone areas in the city. Measures have already been taken in 166 locations. The remaining 43 must be addressed immediately. Senior officers from each zone have been asked to visit these sites personally and ensure timely intervention.”
At a meeting held on May 17, Tushar Giri Nath emphasised the urgent need to compile a list of ongoing works under the disaster management framework and ensure their swift completion. He also instructed the Special Commissioner of the Planning Division to conduct periodic review meetings.
Bengaluru’s BBMP jurisdiction contains approximately 860 km of major stormwater drains. Of these, RCC wall construction for 173 km of previously unlined drains is underway, with officials ordered to expedite completion and convert them into fully lined drains.
Regarding the 209 identified flood-prone areas, zonal authorities have been ordered to verify sites within their jurisdiction and submit certified reports confirming permanent solutions. In areas where problems continue to exist, precautionary measures such as pump installations should be implemented alongside steps toward long-term solutions.
The traffic police have identified 137 waterlogging spots on major roads and shared the list with BBMP, which has been put on task with addressing these issues and providing status updates for re-verification.
BBMP Chief Commissioner Maheshwar Rao instructed officials to form teams to clear fallen trees and branches from major roads and to prioritise pothole repairs on arterial and sub-arterial routes. Completion of this will be followed by surprise inspections to ensure effectiveness. Additionally, officials in all eight zones have been tasked with implementing detailed micro-plans for better execution.
The Chief Commissioner also said that many footpaths are blocked by tree stumps and fallen branches, requiring clearance. Forest department officials were asked to install protective grills around roadside plants and place jelly stones around their bases.
Maheshwar Rao said, “Our respected Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister have been closely monitoring the situation and are in continuous contact. From the control room, we are conducting extra checks on storm drainage levels across zones.” He added, “Some flooding has occurred due to heavy rains, but ongoing works are speeding up the drainage system.”
Promises to remove encroachments
Speaking to TNM, BS Prahlad, Engineer-in-Chief of BBMP, said the identification and removal of encroachments is a complex and continuous legal process. Since 2016–17, approximately 2,602 encroachments were identified, of which 2,326 have been removed or resolved, reflecting a nearly 90% resolution rate.
Between September 17, 2022, and August 27, 2023, an additional 556 encroachments were identified, followed by 1,134 more cases from August 28, 2023, after a public appeal inviting complaints and observations. In total, around 4,300 encroachments have been identified so far, with 2,320–2,350 removed to date.
Prahlad stated, “Removal is not an immediate process; we are consistently working on it. It involves verifying land records, issuing notices, conducting surveys through the (office of) ADLR (Assistant Director of Land Records), and holding hearings before the Special Deputy Commissioner. Property owners are also entitled to appeal decisions in the Karnataka High Court.”
Along with these, other promises made by officials remain unfulfilled. For instance, deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar ordered lake connectivity and a ban on constructions around 50km of SWDs, which is yet to be implemented with an iron hand.
Despite these efforts, Bengaluru appears only partially prepared for this monsoon. For many parts of the city, this season could feel like déjà vu.