The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has initiated a ₹200 crore plan to safeguard the city from recurrent flooding during the monsoon. The civic body has identified 88 critical locations along the city’s nullahs where retaining walls will be built and culverts strengthened. Officials said the project will be implemented in phases, and work is expected to commence within the next two months once the tendering process is finalized.
This ambitious project is designed to tackle an issue that has troubled Pune for years — the flooding of residential and commercial areas whenever heavy rains hit. The move comes as part of the city’s long-term drainage and flood mitigation strategy. According to PMC officials, the initiative aims to protect low-lying and high-risk zones that have repeatedly suffered waterlogging and property damage during the monsoon season.
The total project cost is estimated at ₹200 crore, which includes GST, taxes, and additional expenses. Out of this, ₹166 crore has been allocated under a single consolidated tender to appoint an implementing agency responsible for all city zones. This marks a major shift from the earlier approach of issuing five separate tenders, which had caused delays and administrative hurdles. The new unified tendering system is expected to streamline processes and ensure faster, more transparent implementation.
Funding for the project is being supported by the state government, which has already released an initial installment of ₹29.8 crore. The remaining funds will be disbursed in phases as the work progresses. Jagdish Khanore, head of PMC’s drainage department, confirmed that technical and administrative clearances are currently being finalized, and construction activity will begin soon after that.
The initiative traces its origins to proposals made after the devastating 2019 floods that had severely impacted several parts of Pune, particularly areas near nullahs and riverbanks. Those events had exposed the city’s outdated drainage system and lack of adequate retaining structures. While some repair and protection works were completed in the years that followed, progress remained limited. Funding constraints and procedural challenges further delayed completion.
Last year, the PMC cancelled an earlier tendering process after identifying multiple technical flaws and allegations of irregularities. This prompted the civic body to rework the plan into a single, consolidated structure to ensure better monitoring and accountability. With a stronger project management framework in place, the administration expects smoother execution and improved results this time.
Civic engineers say that constructing retaining walls at vulnerable spots along the nullahs will prevent erosion and overflow, while reinforced culverts will enhance water flow capacity and reduce the chances of clogging during heavy rainfall. For residents in flood-prone zones, this could mean long-awaited relief from recurring monsoon disruptions.
PMC officials emphasized that the work will be closely monitored to avoid the lapses seen in earlier phases. Once completed, the project is expected to significantly strengthen Pune’s urban resilience and protect its rapidly growing neighborhoods from future flood risks.
