Heavy rains have exposed the poor maintenance of prominent thoroughfares such as Brigade Road and MG Road. During rains, these roads virtually turn streams, making it extremely difficult for motorists and pedestrians alike.
Poor maintenance of shoulder drains meant to carry rainwater is said to be the major culprit. The drains have not been desilted for the past 15 years. At the Brigade Road-Residency Road junction, opposite Mota Royal Arcade, pedestrians literally have to jump to cross over. Sohail Yusuf, secretary of Brigade Road Shops and Establishment Association, said several attempts by them to get BBMP to act had come to nought.
A Palike official admitted that desilting of drains on these roads has not been done for many years as they are waiting to start the TenderSure work on Brigade Road.
Water from Metro tracks
“Adding to this is the water from the Metro rail tracks on M G Road, which floods Brigade Road every time it rains. Every Metro pillar has pipelines attached to drain out the rainwater from the tracks, which floods the roads. We have discussed this issue with BMRCL,” Yusuf said.
The water from the Metro tracks also floods MG Road. The signal after the Mayo Hall turns into a virtual river as there is no outlet. At every Metro station, water leaks from the ceiling, falling directly on to the motorists and pedestrians.
Pradeep Singh Kharola, managing director, Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited, said that he was unaware that the water let out from the elevated tracks was flooding the roads.
“We have pipelines attached to each Metro pillar to drain out the rainwater on to the median. But I was not aware that this water was flooding the roads. It could also be due to the gradient of the road,” he said.
Kharola was also unaware about the leakages caused at Metro stations.
“We do not have any facility for harvesting rainwater till date. We have huge sumps at every Metro station, which are kept stocked for use in case of any fire emergency. We could possibly have a system to harvest the rainwater from the tracks into the sumps in order to avoid flooding,” he said.
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