rain
Tuesday’s downpour saw Electronics City, Hebbal, KR Market and Peenya flyovers experience severe congestion, while Shivajinagar, Tavarekere Metro station and HSR Layout reported waterlogging. The irony is hard to miss. Ahead of the southwest monsoon, Bengaluru North City Corporation had held a rain-preparedness meeting in May and directed officials to ensure that roads were swept regularly using mechanical sweepers. Yet, months later, the machines meant to keep the city’s major roads clean remain stuck in the trial and tendering stage. In the north corporation, commissioner Pommala Sunil Kumar inspected a sweeping machine during a field trial in the second week of Sept. The demonstration was intended to assess whether the equipment could efficiently clean arterial and sub-arterial roads and meet the corporation’s requirements. Its technical evaluation committee, headed by former commissioner KN Ramesh, inspected mechanical sweepers near South End Circle in Jayanagar. But while the corporations test machines, the city continues to battle the consequences of unclean roads. At several locations, traffic police had to step in and clear blocked drains to restore the flow of rainwater. Hebbal flyover emerged as one of the worst-affected stretches, with commuters reportedly stranded until late at night.
Bengaluru South City Corporation, too, conducted trials earlier this month.