Bangalore: the city of electronics elevated highway was expected to speed up travel to and from Electronics City. But Wednesday evening traffic jam showed how the structure is hostage to infrastructural gaps at Junction of the silk panel where it takes off from. TOI spoke to a cross-section of highway users and others about the challenges faced along the corridor.
Shilpa Rao, 46 ​​| technician working in E-City Phase 1
It took me four hours to reach my home in Jayanagar on Wednesday evening due to traffic jams on the highway. My family started cursing me, telling me why I go to work. Thousands of people were stranded on the highway. Why does the Silk Board junction flood every time it rains? What are the authorities doing to contain this? BBMP, BWSSB and BMRCL should be held accountable
Shekhar Bhansali, 62 years old | man working in Bommasandra
Watching the traffic and hearing the news of the waterlogged Silk Board junction, I decided to take an alternate route and crossed Jigani to reach my house in JP Nagar VII phase. Although it took me about two hours, I was lucky because I didn’t get stuck on the flyover. We have reached a situation where getting stuck in traffic jams has become commonplace
Vinod Jacob | Namma Bengaluru Foundation
The highway gridlock reflects poor design and a lack of periodic maintenance of public assets by the local municipality. Town and city planning departments must take immediate steps to stop encroachments and ensure that storm drains and lakes are desilted before each monsoon season. Recurrent monsoon floods wreak havoc among citizens, causing damage to lives, property, homes and vehicles.
Sree Nikhil, 32 years old | resident of Jayanagar II block
I was stuck at the start of the flyover and walking all the way to the end is completely stupid. I was stuck with my colleagues on the bus for over three hours. All the plans I had made with my family and others for this evening were canceled. I got home around 10 p.m. I then realized that the flood was due to waterlogging at the Silk Board junction.
WHAT THE INTERNETS ARE SAYING
SRINIVAS S (@855800sjl)
4-lane overpass, 6-lane at-grade highway, and 2-lane service road on each side of the highway! A total of 14 lanes and always traffic jams! It is now up to the public to use public transport. I hope the new subway tracks can soon solve the problem to some extent
Pranav Balakrishnan (@PranavBalakrish)
Wait, wait, I thought flyovers were supposed to regulate traffic. Isn’t that true?