NDMC to review drainage after waterlogging at Shivaji Stadium, New Delhi

At Shivaji Stadium Metro Station, rainwater that NDMC expected to clear in 15 to 20 minutes took nearly 90 minutes to drain on Tuesday.

NDMC chairperson Manoj Kumar Dwivedi apologised to people affected by waterlogging across the council area. He said more than 72 mm of rain fell in less than two hours and said the civic body needed to strengthen its systems for intense, localised showers.

The council has installed high-capacity pumps at Connaught Place Outer Circle near Panchkuian Road, Shivaji Stadium Metro Station, Mandir Marg T-point and Talkatora. NDMC is fitting the pumps with longer pipes so that water can be discharged into drains farther away, rather than into drains already under pressure.

NDMC has also increased desilting of sump wells, drains and bell mouths. Its review will examine bottlenecks and drainage capacity at known flooding points, including whether the network can handle population growth and changing rainfall patterns.

Dwivedi said NDMC aims to complete the review and planned drainage upgrades before the next monsoon.