Patna : With the monsoon season approaching, Patna Municipal Corporation (PMC) has begun preparations to tackle waterlogging across the city. Authorities have identified 97 locations vulnerable to flooding and appointed 75 nodal officers across the city’s 75 wards to respond swiftly to complaints.
The initiative, led by BUDCO Managing Director and Municipal Commissioner Animesh Kumar Parashar, aims to ensure accountability and timely action. Officers have been instructed to complete ongoing drainage works before the onset of the rains.
Drainage woes continue
Despite pre-monsoon efforts, widespread negligence has been reported in the construction and maintenance of drainage systems. In several areas, improper construction has left drains disconnected or uncovered, and many projects remain incomplete. Key areas affected include Nutan Rajdhani Zone (wards 3, 4, 9–13, 15, 17, 21, 28, 37), Kankarbagh (wards 34, 35, 45, 55), Bankipur (wards 43, 47), and Patliputra Zone (wards 1, 2, 7, 22A, 22C, 24).
The situation has been exacerbated by ongoing construction under the Namami Gange project, which has reportedly damaged existing drains. Other contributing factors include low-capacity sump houses, road ditches left unrepaired, and a lack of integration between drainage networks.
Infrastructure snapshot
Patna’s six municipal zones collectively manage tens of thousands of manholes:
- New Capital Zone: 8,627
- Patliputra Zone: 12,001
- Bankipur Zone: 10,354
- Kankarbagh Zone: 16,424
- Patna City Zone: 341
- Azimabad Zone: 1,217
The city’s drainage network comprises nine major drains, including the Serpentine Drain (6,039m), Kurji Nala (5,480m), and Saidpur Nala (3,500m), among others.
As PMC intensifies its efforts, residents hope the pre-monsoon action will prevent the chronic flooding that has disrupted life in Patna in recent years.
