Mumbai’s civic administration has prepared an integrated flood-control action plan estimated at about Rs 13,000 crore to address recurring monsoon waterlogging, with measures covering drainage capacity, pumping systems, nullah improvements, the Mithi River and nature-based interventions.
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation has invited tenders to appoint a consultant for the project. The consultant is expected to prepare a detailed project report within nine months and will receive a fee of Rs 110 crore, according to a report by Loksatta. The report does not state the full implementation schedule or the funding breakdown for the proposed plan.
One component of the proposal involves installing protective screens along the edges of nullahs to prevent floating waste from entering the drainage network. The civic body plans to stop up to 90% of such waste from reaching the nullahs during the 2028 monsoon, the report said.
Mumbai faces recurring waterlogging during heavy rainfall, particularly in low-lying areas. The city’s bowl-like topography and its location beside the sea make it difficult for stormwater to drain quickly during periods of intense rain. The problem is also linked to the capacity and functioning of the city’s stormwater drainage system, as well as the flow of waste and silt into drains and waterways.
The proposed action plan includes increasing the capacity of stormwater drains, strengthening pumping arrangements, expanding the capacity of nullahs and carrying out improvements along the Mithi River. It also proposes nature-based measures, although the available report does not provide details on the locations, designs or expected capacity of those interventions.
The BMC had earlier undertaken the Brihanmumbai Storm Water Disposal System, or BRIMSTOWAD, project to improve the capacity of Mumbai’s stormwater drainage network. The new integrated plan is intended to address flood-control requirements through a broader package of drainage, pumping, waterway and environmental measures.
The process for preparing the plan has been under way for about a year. According to the report, the BMC held its first meeting with the National Disaster Management Authority on 12 March 2025. Site inspections and project presentations followed. The proposal was presented to Union Home Minister Amit Shah in June, after which it received in-principle approval. It has since been submitted to the central government and the NDMA.
The next formal step is the appointment of the consultant and preparation of the detailed project report. That report is expected to establish the specific works, costs and implementation framework for the proposed Rs 13,000-crore Mumbai flood-control plan.
