Despite spending crores of rupees on rainwater holding structures to tackle urban flooding, Hyderabad continues to face severe waterlogging during intense downpours. The Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) had aimed to ease water stagnation by installing these systems at major flood-prone stretches, but recent rains exposed their limitations.
In 2024, GHMC planned 50 rainwater holding structures near key waterlogging spots so excess rainwater could be stored and later pumped into drains during dry spells. The city currently has about 140 such waterlogging points, including 30 considered critical. So far, 10 structures — each with a capacity of 2 to 10 lakh litres and costing between ₹50 lakh and ₹1 crore — have been built in locations like Mercure Hyderabad KCP, Errum Manzil, Lake View Guest House, Raj Bhavan Road, Secretariat, and Ameerpet.
However, during heavy showers, these facilities have struggled to prevent flooding. On Raj Bhavan Road, for example, rain on Thursday and Saturday quickly filled the holding tanks within minutes, causing water to spill onto the streets. The structures are equipped with RCC pipes, borewells, stormwater grills, HDPE inlets and outlets, and submersible pumps to push water into nearby drains within a few hours.
GHMC officials say the problem lies in the intensity of the rainfall. “These structures are designed to handle up to 5 cm of rain. The recent cloudburst-like event brought nearly 10 cm in an hour, overwhelming the system. Still, we were able to pump the water into drains within 30 minutes, which helped restore traffic flow,” said a senior GHMC engineering official.
To address the recurring issue, the Hyderabad Disaster Response and Asset Protection Agency (HYDRAA) plans to install new pipelines in flood-prone areas to improve water flow. “We will begin pilot civil works at locations like Maitrivanam, Malkam Cheruvu, and Malakpet before expanding citywide. Coordination between GHMC, traffic police, and other departments will be key to execution,” said HYDRAA commissioner AV Ranganath.
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