Top govt officials map out monsoon strategy for Bengaluru

Bengaluru: Top officials from various departments convened on Monday for a three-hour meeting aimed at preparing Bengaluru for the upcoming monsoon season, which often brings the city to its knees as a result of flooding and infrastructure damage.

The meeting was attended by senior representatives from the BBMP, traffic police, Bescom, BWSSB, Namma Metro, Fire Department, and K-RIDE.

Tushar Giri Nath, Additional Chief Secretary of the Urban Development Department (UDD), who chaired the meeting, reportedly did most of the talking.

The traffic police presented a list of 209 flood-prone locations across the city and called for swift action to mitigate flooding risks.

Giri Nath instructed engineers to prioritise work in these areas and reviewed maintenance work on rajakaluves (stormwater drains), stressing the need to address vulnerable spots along the drainage network.

To streamline coordination among departments, the group decided to create a dedicated WhatsApp group connecting officials from the BBMP, Bescom, BWSSB, and other agencies for real-time communication and quicker response during emergencies.

The traffic police also flagged 647 potholes still awaiting repair, though officials noted that some have already been addressed and five are located outside the BBMP’s jurisdiction.

BBMP Chief Commissioner M Maheshwar Rao also participated in the high-level discussions.