Thu Oct 23 13:36:02 UTC 2025: Here’s a summary of the article, followed by a rewritten version as a news article:
Summary:
Bengaluru is launching a new Zonal Drainage Master Plan (ZDM) under the World Bank-backed Water Resilient Project to address the city’s persistent flooding problems. The initiative aims to create a comprehensive blueprint for managing stormwater and drainage systems. However, the project faces significant challenges, including a lack of reliable data on stormwater and sewage networks, poor coordination between civic agencies, and missing project files. Despite previous attempts to address these issues, little progress has been made. This time, World Bank funding is tied to implementation outcomes, putting pressure on the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) to succeed. Crowdsourcing data is being considered as a potential solution to the data gap problem.
News Article:
Bengaluru Launches Ambitious Drainage Plan to Combat Flooding, Faces Data Hurdles
Bengaluru, October 23, 2025 – The Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) has announced a fresh Zonal Drainage Master Plan (ZDM) aimed at tackling the city’s recurring flooding woes. Backed by the World Bank’s Water Resilient Project, the ZDM seeks to create a comprehensive blueprint for managing stormwater and drainage systems across Bengaluru.
“Bengaluru currently lacks a robust stormwater drain and sewage network, which has been a major contributing factor to the city’s frequent flooding. The ZDM will not only help address existing gaps, but also assess and plan for future challenges,” said a GBA official.
The plan will involve detailed mapping, analysis of rainfall and runoff patterns, and recommendations for infrastructure upgrades. A key component will be an integrated map of natural and man-made drainage, land use, and topography. The Karnataka State Natural Disaster Management Authority (KSDMA) will collaborate with IISc and IIT Madras on implementation.
However, the project faces significant hurdles. A critical lack of reliable data on the city’s stormwater and sewage networks threatens to derail the plan. Historically, drainage projects have been executed independently by various agencies, leading to poor coordination, data sharing and missing documentation.
“There is a significant data gap concerning stormwater drains and their network across the city,” a project source revealed. “GBA must now rely on multiple fragmented sources for critical information.”
While not the first attempt to address the issue – a similar plan was announced in 2022 following a critical audit – this time the stakes are higher. The World Bank funding is tied to measurable implementation outcomes, known as Disbursement Linked Indicators (DLIs), placing pressure on the GBA to deliver tangible results.
To overcome the data gap, crowdsourcing and citizen participation are being considered. The final decision on adopting this approach is still pending. With the monsoon season looming, the success of the ZDM is critical for mitigating flood risks and ensuring the resilience of Bengaluru’s infrastructure.
First Piper 