Bhubaneswar Plans 2050-Ready Drainage System with New Master Plan

Bhubaneswar: In an effort to tackle recurring waterlogging and prepare for the city’s rapid growth, the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) has initiated work on a comprehensive Drainage Master Plan that will serve as a blueprint up to 2050.

The plan, reviewed at a high-level meeting on Thursday, focuses on long-term storm water management and urban infrastructure integration. The session was chaired by BMC Commissioner Chanchal Rana and attended by IIT Roorkee professor D.S. Arya, senior officials from BDA, Smart City, IMD, OSCDMA, IDCO, and technical experts from various departments.

Officials said the master plan will go beyond traditional drainage measures by linking road networks, encroachment identification, and utility mapping to address flooding in a holistic manner. A GIS-based mapping survey, already underway, is central to the strategy. Interim findings from IIT Roorkee scientists were presented during the review.

To promote transparency and public involvement, the collected data will be uploaded to the Bhubaneswar-One Citizen Portal. The initiative will incorporate both immediate remedial measures and long-term projects aimed at safeguarding the capital against future climate and urbanization challenges.

IIT Roorkee has also prepared an implementation roadmap, with survey completion targeted by December. The Water Resources Department welcomed the progress, calling the initiative a crucial step toward making Bhubaneswar a model for sustainable urban development.