High-Level Team Reviews Key Flood-Prone Areas, Fast-Tracks Permanent Drainage Solutions

A high-level team of senior officials conducted field inspections across several flood-prone locations in Hyderabad to review monsoon preparedness and accelerate measures aimed at reducing urban flooding, with a focus on strengthening drainage infrastructure and ensuring uninterrupted stormwater flow.

The inspection was led by Government Advisor Sudarshan Reddy, who, along with senior officials, visited Chikoti Gardens and Prakash Nagar in Begumpet, Uppal Junction, LB Nagar Cross Roads, and the KLM Shopping Mall stretch in Vanasthalipuram. The team reviewed ongoing flood mitigation works, assessed the preparedness of civic agencies, and evaluated permanent engineering solutions for recurring waterlogging hotspots.

The delegation included Telangana Director General of Police (DGP) C.V. Anand, HYDRAA Commissioner A.V. Ranganath, Malkajgiri Police Commissioner Sumathi, Malkajgiri Municipal Corporation (MMC) Commissioner Vinay Krishna Reddy, Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (HMWSSB) Managing Director Ashok Reddy, Malkajgiri Zonal Commissioner Sanchit Gangwar, MMC Chief Engineer Ashok Reddy, HMWSSB Executive Director Pankaja, and other senior officials.

At Chikoti Gardens, officials reviewed an underground tunnelling project being executed to remove utility-related obstructions affecting an existing stormwater drain. The remaining tunnelling work will continue after relocation of an HMWSSB drinking water pipeline, while regular desilting of the existing drain is being carried out to ensure smooth rainwater flow during the monsoon.

Uppal Junction, once one of Hyderabad's most waterlogging-prone intersections, has been transformed through the construction of a 5 lakh-litre Rainwater Holding Structure (RWHS) and the installation of two 10 HP dewatering pumps. Excess rainwater is temporarily stored in the holding structure and pumped into the drainage network through a 600 mm pipeline, while an additional 900 mm pipeline diverts runoff from the Mahankali Temple area. These interventions have eliminated waterlogging at the junction, officials said.

The team also reviewed the ongoing 900 mm diameter stormwater drain being constructed using trenchless tunnelling technology from Road No. 2, Chandrapuri Colony to Gunti Jangaiah Colony near LB Nagar Cross Roads. Once completed, the project is expected to permanently resolve water stagnation along the service road adjoining the flyover.

At Vanasthalipuram, the team inspected works opposite KLM Shopping Mall, where an additional 1,000 mm vent has been installed using trenchless tunnelling technology alongside the existing Chintalakunta culvert and connected to the stormwater drain at Aghamaiah Colony. The completed project has addressed recurring flooding caused by runoff from surrounding residential neighbourhoods.

During the inspection, the team directed civic agencies to immediately remove silt and garbage obstructing water flow, intensify maintenance of lake inlets, outlets and major drains, and undertake special interventions in vulnerable locations. They also stressed coordinated action among HMWSSB, HYDRAA, MMC, Police and Revenue departments to minimise flood risks during the rainy season.

Officials were instructed to maintain round-the-clock monitoring of flood-prone areas and strengthen preventive measures to minimise inconvenience to resident. Meanwhile, DGP C.V. Anand stressed that public safety should remain the highest priority, while the team called for faster implementation of permanent solutions to recurring flooding and waterlogging across the city.

The field review forms part of the state's wider monsoon preparedness programme aimed at improving urban resilience and strengthening Hyderabad's stormwater management infrastructure.