KMC Approves ₹145 Crore Kolkata Sewer Upgrade to Tackle Waterlogging in North, East Kolkata
In a move aimed at reducing chronic waterlogging and strengthening ageing civic infrastructure, the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) has cleared a major sewer rehabilitation and upgradation project with an estimated outlay of nearly ₹145 crore. The initiative focuses on revamping key stretches of underground drainage networks in north and east Kolkata, areas that frequently face flooding during the monsoon.
Civic authorities say the project is designed to modernise parts of the city’s colonial-era sewer system, which now struggles to cope with urban expansion, silt accumulation, and increasingly intense rainfall patterns.
Areas Covered Under the Project
The proposed work will include refurbishment of ageing brick sewer lines along important corridors such as Beleghata Main Road, CIT Road, and Hemchandra Naskar Road, along with several adjoining roads connected to this drainage basin.
Officials note that the sewer network in this zone serves an urban catchment area of roughly 5.9 square kilometres, supporting a population estimated at around 2.5 lakh residents. The area includes densely populated neighbourhoods, busy traffic routes, and critical civic establishments, making drainage efficiency a priority for both public safety and urban mobility.
Why the Kolkata Sewer Upgrade Is Needed
According to civic records, much of the existing sewer infrastructure in these parts of Kolkata dates back to the British period. Over decades, structural wear, siltation, and increasing load on the system have reduced the capacity of these underground channels.
Urban growth has added to the pressure. Roads that were once designed to handle limited runoff now receive stormwater from expanded built-up areas with more paved surfaces, leading to faster and heavier flow into the drainage network.
Officials also pointed to shifting rainfall patterns. Instead of steady showers, the city now often experiences short spells of intense rainfall, which the old drainage system was not designed to manage. Even moderate rain can result in water accumulation on major roads, causing traffic disruptions and affecting daily life for residents and commuters.
Nature of the Rehabilitation Work
Under the approved plan, the old brick sewers will not simply be replaced but rehabilitated using modern lining and strengthening techniques. These methods are intended to restore structural stability and improve the hydraulic efficiency of the pipelines without extensive surface excavation in all locations.
Engineers involved in urban drainage projects say such lining technologies can help smoothen the internal surfaces of sewers, allowing stormwater to pass through more quickly. This reduces the chances of overflow during heavy rain and minimises the risk of underground collapse that can damage roads above.
The project also aims to address long-term maintenance issues. By upgrading the system’s structural integrity, KMC expects to cut down on repeated emergency repairs that are often required during the monsoon when old sewers fail under pressure.
Expected Benefits for Residents
Once completed, the upgraded drainage network is expected to improve surface runoff in low-lying pockets of north and east Kolkata, areas that have historically reported frequent flooding complaints.
Better stormwater flow could help reduce the duration and severity of waterlogging, which in turn may ease traffic congestion and lower the risk of accidents or vehicle breakdowns during heavy rain. Residents and shopkeepers in affected zones often face economic losses during prolonged waterlogging, and civic officials say the project is intended to bring more predictable drainage performance.
Improved underground sewer conditions are also likely to help protect road infrastructure. Water seepage and sewer leakage are known to weaken road foundations, leading to potholes and surface damage.
Part of a Broader Infrastructure Push
KMC officials have described the clearance of this project as part of a wider effort to modernise ageing civic systems in older parts of Kolkata. Large sections of the city still rely on infrastructure laid many decades ago, which now requires systematic upgrading rather than piecemeal repairs.
With the monsoon season being a recurring challenge for the city, civic planners say long-term drainage improvements are crucial for building resilience against extreme weather events. While the project represents a significant financial commitment, officials argue that preventive investment in underground infrastructure can reduce larger repair and disaster-management costs in the future.
As work progresses, residents are likely to see phased construction activity in the identified corridors. Authorities are expected to coordinate traffic management and public communication to minimise disruption.
In the long run, the sewer rehabilitation project is being positioned as a step toward making Kolkata’s drainage system more robust, efficient, and better aligned with the city’s current urban realities.
