Bengaluru's Water Lifeline: The ₹5,000 Crore Project

The Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) is set to launch its first major independent initiative—the Bengaluru Water Resilience Project—backed by a USD 426 million (₹3,500 crore) World Bank loan under the Programme-for-Results (PforR) financing model.

Scheduled for implementation between 2026 and 2031, the project focuses on strengthening the city’s stormwater drain (SWD) network and building sewage treatment plants (STPs) to enhance urban water resilience. Originally planned under the now-dissolved Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), the project has been reassigned to the GBA. While GBA will oversee SWD works, the Bengaluru Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) will manage the STP components.

Although the B-SMILE program—responsible for four large infrastructure projects—was considered for execution, GBA opted for direct control to fast-track implementation. A dedicated Special Commissioner will be appointed, and additional engineers will be deployed to manage the project.

With a total cost of ₹5,000 crore, the initiative will be co-funded by the state government. GBA will cover smaller components through its own revenues, primarily sourced from single-site approval fees previously collected by the Bengaluru Development Authority (BDA). Additionally, the GBA’s Climate Action Cell will align the project with Karnataka’s broader Climate Action Plan, ensuring sustainability and climate resilience.

News by Rahul Yelligetti.