Bengaluru: For motorists and pedestrians, rain at Silk Board Junction has once again become a warning sign to brace for chaos. Just weeks after the much-hyped inauguration of the double-decker flyover promised smoother travel along the city’s tech corridor, commuters are back to cursing the junction, this time over severe waterlogging that continues to cripple traffic every time it pours.On Friday evening, heavy rain turned the stretch near Silk Board Metro station into a muddy pool, forcing vehicles to crawl through flooded roads during peak-hour traffic. A similar scene unfolded Thursday as well, leaving frustrated commuters stranded in bumper-to-bumper congestion.The story has become painfully familiar for Bengalureans as the problem is not new. Last May, pre-monsoon showers submerged the key junction and nearby roads, with floodwater even entering Silk Board Metro station. At the time, BBMP (now GBA) officials blamed Namma Metro construction work and blocked storm-water drains for disrupting the natural flow of rainwater. Authorities had promised residents that clogged drains would be cleared and flooding controlled before the next monsoon.A year later, commuters say little has changed. On Thursday evening, just 30 minutes of heavy rain was enough to throw traffic completely out of gear at Silk Board Junction, Roopena Agrahara, Bommanahalli and surrounding stretches of the national highway. Vehicles moved at a snail’s pace for hours.“Waterlogging at Silk Board has become routine whenever the city gets heavy rain in the evening,” said a senior traffic police officer. “Water started receding around 10.30pm, but traffic congestion continued till almost midnight.”Problems & solutionsAccording to officials, Silk Board receives rainwater flowing from nearly 20 lakes, including Madiwala, and the existing stormwater drain network is unable to handle the volume during intense rain.To address this, GBA has begun work to expand the drain capacity from 1.5m to 3.5m using steel girders. The project started in April and officials hope to complete it by June-end.SV Rajesh, chief engineer of GBA’s project implementation unit, said tonnes of garbage choking stormwater drains have made the flooding problem worse. “Over 40 tonnes of waste, including plastic bottles, clothes and garbage, have been removed from drains near Silk Board,” he added.Officials are constructing an L-shaped culvert to divert water towards HSR Layout side in an attempt to prevent future flooding. However, the ongoing work has led to road closures and traffic diversions, adding to commuter frustration.According to Bengaluru South City Corporation officials, infrastructure projects over the years have disrupted the natural drainage pattern around Silk Board. They said the earlier construction of NHAI flyover altered the water flow, while Metro works later and massive pillars built for double-decker flyover further obstructed drainage channels around the junction.Pedestrians risk livesThe stormwater drain works have turned into a safety hazard for pedestrians using the busy junction to access the Yellow Line Metro station and BMTC bus stand.With no dedicated pedestrian pathway, commuters are forced to walk on busy roads filled with mud and garbage. Shubashree, a passenger, said, “After getting down at the Metro station, I walk nearly 300 metres to reach the BMTC bus stand. The stretch is both a safety and health hazard. There is absolutely no space for pedestrians to walk. After desilting works, waste has been dumped on the roadside and when it rains, it spreads all over the place.”Karthik M, a techie, said, “Lack of civic sense among people and apathy of officials have resulted in the mess at Silk Board Junction.”
