IIT Roorkee collaborates with Bhubaneswar municipal corporation for stormwater management

NEW DELHI: The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Roorkee and Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) have signed an agreement to develop a stormwater management plan for Bhubaneswar, Odisha. The IIT Roorkee-BMC collaboration aims to enhance urban flood management, improve drainage systems, and address climate change impacts.

The project will incorporate advanced data collection technologies such as drone mapping, Total Station (TS), and Differential Global Positioning System (DGPS). The agreement was signed by Akshay Dwivedi, Dean SRIC, IIT Roorkee, and Rajesh Prabhakar Patil, IAS, Commissioner, BMC. The project will be led by DS Arya from IIT Roorkee’s Department of Hydrology.

IIT Roorkee-BMC Collaboration: Project details

The initiative focuses on developing an integrated drainage master plan and a detailed project report (DPR) to provide sustainable and data-driven solutions for flood mitigation in Bhubaneswar. The plan includes long-term projections up to 2050, considering population growth and climate change.

Implementation

IIT Roorkee will conduct hydraulic and dynamic simulations to optimize stormwater infrastructure and ensure efficient water discharge through canals like the Gangua Nala, leading to the Daya River. As per the IIT Roorkee press release, The initiative will also integrate SCADA systems for real-time monitoring of pumping stations and introduce a sensor-based flood alarm system.

As per the IIT Roorkee press release, the collaboration aims to offer both flood mitigation solutions and a long-term strategy for climate-resilient urban planning. A socio-environmental impact assessment and drainage rehabilitation plans will be part of the initiative to protect vulnerable communities.

Kamal Kishore Pant, Director of IIT Roorkee, highlighted the institution’s role in applying research-driven solutions to urban challenges. Rajesh Prabhakar Patil, Commissioner of BMC, emphasized the importance of this initiative in developing a sustainable drainage system for Bhubaneswar.

"This collaboration exemplifies IIT Roorkee's dedication to addressing real-world challenges through research-driven solutions. We aim to help Bhubaneswar build an infrastructure that is not just resilient but also adaptive to the challenges posed by climate change."

Alignment with Smart Cities Mission and SDGs

This partnership aims to position Bhubaneswar as a model city for climate-resilient urban planning. The initiative aligns with India's Smart Cities Mission and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), serving as a reference for urban flood management across the country.