5km-long flood wall to save vulnerable areas near Yamuna in north Delhi

New Delhi: A nearly 5km-long flood wall from Majnu Ka Tila to Kashmere Gate along the Yamuna has been planned to prevent flooding of vulnerable areas in north Delhi during heavy monsoon spells. The project, with a sanctioned estimate of around Rs 50 crore, seeks to create a protective barrier along Ring Road to stop floodwater from entering nearby low-lying city areas and causing widespread damage. After receiving administrative approval, it was cleared by Yamuna Standing Committee in Feb.Irrigation and flood control minister Parvesh Verma said the project was part of a broader effort to strengthen the city's flood management system. "During the monsoon season of 2025, we ensured the safe passage of a flood of the magnitude of 207.48m at ORB, the third highest in Delhi, due to a number of initiatives that we took in the past one year," Verma said. "We want to be better prepared for the future. Our aim is to ensure that residents and traders in these areas do not face the same level of disruption again, even when the Yamuna swells," he added.A boundary wall will be built from Magazine Drain to Old Railway Bridge. "The wall will be high enough so that it stays about 6 feet above the highest floodwater expected in that area, giving an extra safety buffer to the vulnerable areas," said an official. Tender has been floated, but no deadline has been fixed yet for the construction work. The flood wall will run for a total length of 4.72km. Of this, around 850 metres will be built as a reinforced cement concrete retaining wall, which is a stronger structure designed to hold back soil and water pressure in more vulnerable sections near the river. The remaining 3,870 metres will be constructed as a boundary wall using brick or stone masonry, which will act as a protective barrier to prevent floodwater from entering city areas, said officials. "The wall will also help prevent soil erosion along the riverbank and reduce the risk of encroachments along vulnerable stretches of the floodplain," said an official.Large parts of north and central Delhi faced severe flooding during the 2023 flood, when the Yamuna water had entered nearby residential areas. In upscale Civil Lines, hundreds of bungalows and residential properties got inundated. Vehicle movement on Ring Road also had to be stopped, leaving traffic in north and central Delhi in chaos.Low-lying commercial and residential pockets along the riverbank, such as Yamuna Bazaar, the bustling Monastery Market and parts of Majnu Ka Tila, are frequently affected when the river swells during the monsoon. Trade activities and the daily life of thousands of residents and shopkeepers get disrupted due to such inundations.