The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation has prepared a ₹13,000 crore Mumbai flood control plan to address monsoon waterlogging through upgrades to storm-water drains, pumping systems, drainage capacity, the Mithi River and nature-based measures. The civic body has also invited tenders to appoint a consultant, who will prepare a detailed project report within nine months.
The consultant will be paid a fee of ₹110 crore for preparing the report. The action plan is intended to provide a permanent solution to recurring waterlogging in Mumbai, where low-lying areas are frequently inundated during heavy rainfall.
As part of the proposed measures, the BMC plans to install screens along drains to prevent floating waste from entering the drainage network. The civic body has stated that the screens are expected to help stop 90 per cent of such waste from entering drains during the 2028 monsoon.
The proposed plan covers several parts of Mumbai’s flood-management system, including the capacity of storm-water drains, pumping arrangements, the expansion of drainage infrastructure, improvements to the Mithi River and nature-based interventions. The plan follows the BMC’s earlier work to increase the capacity of the city’s storm-water drainage network through the Brihanmumbai Storm Water Disposal System, known as BRIMSTOWAD.
Mumbai’s drainage challenges are intensified by the city’s low-lying areas and its location between the sea and a basin-like terrain, according to the report. During intense rainfall, water can accumulate when the drainage system cannot discharge it quickly enough. Floating waste entering drains and channels can further obstruct the movement of storm water.
The process for preparing the integrated action plan has been under way for about a year. The BMC held its first meeting with the National Disaster Management Authority on March 12, 2025. This was followed by site inspections and presentations on the proposed project.
The proposal was later presented to Union Home Minister Amit Shah in June, after which it received in-principle approval, according to the report. The proposal has subsequently been submitted to the central government and the NDMA.
The immediate next step is the appointment of the consultant through the tender process. The detailed project report is expected to be completed within nine months, while the proposed drain-side screens are scheduled to be used to control floating waste from the 2028 monsoon.
