Rs 57,000-cr Drainage Master Plan unveiled

After nearly five decades, Delhi has got a new Drainage Master Plan aimed at keeping the city flood-free for the next 30 years. The blueprint, with an estimated expenditure of over Rs 57,000 crore, was jointly unveiled on Friday by Union Housing and Urban Affairs Minister Manohar Lal, Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, and PWD Minister Parvesh Verma at the NDMC Convention Centre.

Prepared by the Public Works Department in consultation with eight civic agencies, including MCD, NDMC, DDA, Irrigation and Flood Control and DJB, the plan covers the city’s entire 18,958 km drainage network. Delhi’s last such comprehensive plan was prepared in 1976, when the capital’s population was about 60 lakh. The current population is close to 2.5 crore.

The plan divides the city into three basins — Najafgarh, Barapullah and Trans-Yamuna — for redesign. Consultants will submit detailed project reports ( DPRs) after feasibility studies, topographic and hydraulic surveys, identifying causes of waterlogging, bottlenecks and rainfall patterns. Implementation will be phased, prioritising high-risk zones.

Union Minister Manohar Lal, “With an investment of Rs 57,000 crore, the plan will tackle urban flooding, improve surface storage, and upgrade stormwater channels to enhance the quality of life in Delhi.”

CM Rekha Gupta highlighted recent improvements at chronic waterlogging points, saying, “Areas like Minto Bridge and ITO did not face severe waterlogging this monsoon.” She announced that on September 30, projects worth Rs 4,000 crore, including the Yamuna Rejuvenation Plan, will be inaugurated under the Seva Pakhwada celebrations marking Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s 75th birthday.

PWD Minister Parvesh Verma said the desilting of 20 lakh metric tons from drains ahead of the monsoon had already shown results.

According to officials, the implementation will cost Rs 33,499 crore for Najafgarh Basin, Rs 14,546 crore for Barapullah, and Rs 9,316 crore for Trans-Yamuna, executed in five phases. Once DPRs are approved, tenders will be invited for execution by private firms.