Minister Krishna Byregowda launched the ‘The Ward One’ campaign at the Central Silk board junction by painting the flyover pillars as part of a beautification and makeover initiative in Bengaluru on Saturday
An official said the Rs 5-crore project involves constructing a 60-metre-long drain. 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. Ward One campaign inaugurated The minister also symbolically launched the ‘Ward One’ campaign at Silk Board Junction by initiating the painting of flyover pillars. You Can Also Check: Gold Rate in Bengaluru | Silver Rate in Bengaluru | Bank Holidays in Bengaluru | Public Holidays in Bengaluru | Bengaluru AQI | Weather in Bengaluru | Petrol Price in Bengaluru | Diesel Price in Bengaluru | CNG Price in Bengaluru | LPG Price in Bengaluru Stay updated with the latest Bengaluru news.
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. Officials said covering the drain and making the space accessible to pedestrians is not part of the original project design.
Once completed, it is expected to carry nearly three times the volume of water handled by the existing system. Progress on the Silk Board works has been affected by ongoing Namma Metro construction. Silk Board Junction has repeatedly witnessed flooding during heavy rain, often triggering massive traffic snarls. Free-left access to ease traffic congestion To 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 Junction to facilitate a free-left turn for vehicles. He also instructed officials to examine the construction of a pedestrian walkway alongside the drain. However, following the minister’s suggestion, they would study the proposal. Download the TOI App.
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.
The existing central drain is about 25 feet wide and 2.5 feet deep, according to officials. Under the upgrade, it will be widened to nearly 50 feet and increased to a depth of around three metres. 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.
Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) has set a target of finishing the remaining work of the World Bank-funded project within the next three months. 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.