Chennai Gets India’s First Real-Time Flood Forecast System

In News: Operationalisation of Chennai RTFF & SDSS for Urban Flood Management

Key Highlights:

1. System Overview:
   • Real-Time Flood Forecast (RTFF) & Spatial Decision Support System (SDSS) now fully functional in Chennai.
   • First of its kind in India, designed for urban flood management.
   • Cost: ~₹107.2 crore.
2. Coverage:
   • Area: ~4,974 sq km, including Chennai, Tiruvallur, Kancheepuram, Chengalpattu, and Ranipet districts.
   • Observes lakes, rivers, storm water drains, and the sea.
   • Monitored river sub-basins: Adyar, Cooum, Kosasthalaiyar, Kovalam.
3. Functionality:
   • Provides reliable forecasts of water levels in rivers and tanks.
   • Includes street-level inundation forecasts for vulnerable areas: Pulianthope, Nungambakkam, Mambalam, Saidapet, Velachery, Meenambakkam, Mudichur.
   • Forecasts integrated with TNSMART, the web-based decision support system for disaster management.
   • Public dissemination via TN-Alert mobile app.
4. Implementation & Management:
   • Executed with World Bank support, managed by TNUIFSL through consultants SECON-JBA.
   • Technical oversight by IIT-Madras.
   • Managed by inter-departmental team including WRD and GCC, supervised by CRA.
5. Significance:
   • Helps authorities make timely, data-driven decisions during floods.
   • Enhances urban resilience against extreme weather events.
     
     Updated - October 22, 2025 05:38 pm | The Hindu