Bengaluru: The city’s chronically flood-prone Silk Board Junction may finally get a long-term drainage solution before the next monsoon, but only about a quarter of the ambitious stormwater drain upgrade has been completed so far.Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) has set a target of finishing the remaining work of the World Bank-funded project within the next three months.An official said the Rs 5-crore project involves constructing a 60-metre-long drain. Once completed, it is expected to carry nearly three times the volume of water handled by the existing system.According to officials, the existing central drain is about 25 feet wide and 2.5 feet deep. Under the upgrade, it will be widened to nearly 50 feet and increased to a depth of around three metres.However, during a field inspection Saturday, Bengaluru development minister Krishna Byre Gowda was informed that increasing the carrying capacity at Silk Board could potentially create bottlenecks downstream. Officials noted that drains along parts of HSR Layout and the Outer Ring Road have a lower carrying capacity and may face flooding during heavy rain if the upstream flow increases significantly.Addressing the concern, Gowda directed B-Smile officials to examine whether drain-capacity enhancement works along the HSR and Outer Ring Road stretches could be incorporated into the ongoing Rs 400-crore Outer Ring Road redevelopment project.Progress on the Silk Board works has been affected by ongoing Namma Metro construction. GBA officials said work at certain locations has been paused to avoid clashes with Metro-related activities, which are currently being prioritised.Despite the delay, officials said efforts are being made to prevent flooding by ensuring existing drains remain free of blockages.Silk Board Junction has repeatedly witnessed flooding during heavy rain, often triggering massive traffic snarls.Ward One campaign inauguratedThe minister also symbolically launched the ‘Ward One’ campaign at Silk Board Junction by initiating the painting of flyover pillars. The campaign is being rolled out across 43 wards under the five municipal corporations of GBA, focusing on improving major junctions, public spaces and neighbourhood infrastructure.Free-left access to ease traffic congestionTo improve traffic movement from Electronics City towards BTM Layout, the minister directed officials to explore the possibility of installing a steel grid over a section of the stormwater drain at Silk Board Junctionto facilitate a free-left turn for vehicles.He also instructed officials to examine the construction of a pedestrian walkway alongside the drain.Officials said covering the drain and making the space accessible to pedestrians is not part of the original project design. However, following the minister’s suggestion, they would study the proposal.
