Delhi to Engage IIT Delhi for Yamuna Flood Protection Wall Study

The Delhi government announced on Wednesday that it has decided to engage IIT Delhi to conduct a study for the construction of a new flood protection wall along the Yamuna River. The proposed 4.72-kilometre wall will stretch from Majnu Ka Tila to the Old Railway Bridge, providing strong flood protection to highly vulnerable, low-lying localities including Yamuna Bazar, Civil Lines, and Kashmere Gate.

According to officials, building work on the new wall is scheduled to start next year after IIT Delhi completes its detailed study. The Delhi government has set a target to complete the construction of the wall before the arrival of the next monsoon. In the interim, authorities will repair the existing wall along the Yamuna River. "For now, we will repair the existing wall along the Yamuna to protect vulnerable areas, including Yamuna Bazar," Water Minister Parvesh Verma said.

Water Minister Parvesh Verma highlighted the severe issues in the area, identifying the Yamuna Bazar area near Kashmere Gate as one of the top waterlogging hotspots in the city. Minister Verma noted that this specific area is the first to get flooded during high tides in the Yamuna during the monsoon.

In 2023, despite the presence of the existing protection wall, floodwaters reached heights of eight to ten feet in the Yamuna Bazar area. This severe inundation forced authorities to carry out evacuations of the local residents.

This stretch of the river has historically remained exposed to severe flooding. Major flood episodes have been recorded along this stretch from the devastating floods of 1978 to the more recent inundations in 2023 and 2025.

The decision to build the new wall follows a report from the Joint Flood Committee released in August 2024. The committee identified the construction of a flood protection wall along this stretch of the Ring Road as the most viable long-term solution to protect the vulnerable localities.