Kolkata Municipal Corporation Launches Major Drainage Overhaul Project
The Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) has announced a comprehensive and ambitious drainage upgrade project specifically targeting the worst-affected waterlogging pockets in north and central Kolkata. This initiative is designed to provide long-awaited relief to residents who face severe inundation challenges every monsoon season.
Massive Investment for Infrastructure Revamp
According to official statements from KMC authorities, a sewerage and drainage development plan valued at over Rs 200 crore will be implemented across large sections of north and central Kolkata. The primary objective is to safeguard lakhs of residents from the annual ordeal of severe waterlogging that disrupts daily life and causes significant property damage.
The detailed plans, as indicated in the KMC budget for the financial year 2026-27, include a critical refurbishment of the historic 148-year-old underground sewer line stretching from Moulali to the Palmer Bridge drainage pumping station. This aging brick sewer, with an impressive 2,400 mm diameter, is scheduled for a major structural and functional revamp to meet modern demands.
Extensive Benefits for a Vast Population
Upon successful completion of this extensive sewer refurbishment and rehabilitation project, civic officials estimate that more than 10 lakh people residing across 30 KMC wards will be spared from the devastating effects of monsoon flooding. This represents a significant step forward in urban infrastructure resilience for one of India's most populous metropolitan areas.
In a strategic move to complement the enhanced capacity of the underground 'trunk' sewer line following a special desilting project, the KMC sewerage and drainage department has decided to simultaneously upgrade the Palmer Bridge drainage pumping station. This upgrade is crucial to handle the anticipated extra load of stormwater from numerous neighbourhoods in north and central Kolkata.
Technological Enhancements for Faster Water Recession
"We have made the decision to install two major pumps at the drainage pumping station, along with eight additional high-power pumps," explained a senior KMC official. "This comprehensive exercise will significantly boost the overall capacity of the drainage pumping station. Consequently, accumulated water from critical areas in north and central Kolkata will recede at a much faster and more efficient pace during heavy rainfall events."
Civic authorities have confirmed that residents of several key thoroughfares and localities will directly benefit from what is being termed one of the biggest drainage upgrade projects in recent memory. The list of benefiting areas includes:
- Lenin Sarani
- APC Roy Road
- Chittaranjan Avenue
- Camac Street
- AJC Bose Road
- Park Street
- Loudon Street
- Rawdon Street
- Rafi Ahmed Kidwai Road
- Ripon Street
- Amherst Street
- Bidhan Sarani
Additional Infrastructure Projects Underway
In a parallel development, KMC has expedited the construction of a new drainage pumping station at Hrishikesh Park. This facility is specifically designed to address the persistent waterlogging woes of several adjoining areas, including Amherst Street, Sukea Street, Thanthania, and other adjacent neighbourhoods. It is important to note that this new drainage pumping station is being established as an addition to an already constructed pumping station, forming part of a broader drainage augmentation project for the region.
Beyond these major pumping station initiatives, the KMC sewerage and drainage department has also undertaken the development of a dedicated storm water drainage system along Goabagan Street and Iswar Mill Lane, covering the stretch from Sahitya Parishad Street to Beadon Street. Furthermore, development of the storm water network in specific parts of Rabindra Sarani and B B Ganguly Street is slated to commence in the near future, indicating a multi-pronged approach to Kolkata's drainage challenges.
This comprehensive infrastructure push underscores the civic body's commitment to mitigating urban flooding and enhancing the quality of life for Kolkata's residents through sustained investment in critical public works.
