Traffic gridlock in City

Krishnan A, manager at an MNC, says it took more than an hour for him to reach Windsor Manor from Esteem Mall in Hebbal.“Traffic is chaotic and there is no one to clear the mess. Taking Nandidurga Road is horrifying as the stretch from Mekhri Circle to Cantonment railway station is a death trap. Malleswaram is ruled out as the underpass work near Mariyamma Circle is underway. How do we reach our offices? We pay hefty taxes and isn’t it our right to ask for good roads, water and electricity,” asks Krishnan.

“The ongoing Metro work has ruined the Mysore Road stretch. Manoeuvring potholes and Metro barricades on the stretch is too risky. Besides, trucks, buses and cab drivers virtually bump into our vehicles,” says Ananthraju, a resident of Rajarajeshwari Nagar.

Motorists on Deve Gowda Road near Munireddypalya, JC Nagar, had to take a diversion into the narrow bylanes due to a large pothole on Dinnur Road Junction. Those who attempted short-cuts on the RT Nagar peripheral roads, ended up joining the serpentine queue on Bellary Road.

Speaking to Deccan Herald, B A Muttanna, DCP Traffic (West), said: “Since it was raining, people used their private vehicles. Early in the morning, our staff cleared many roads.

Except for Hosur Road, Lalbagh West Gate to Minerva Circle, JC Road till Freedom Park, there was slow-moving traffic.”

Besides, permitting students to stage a protest near Mahatma Gandhi statue on MG Road was a major mistake on the part of the senior police officers, commuters say.

A water tanker that broke down on Hosur Road had to be lifted with the help of a crane. By this time vehicles piled up and the artillery roads had to bear the brunt, police said.

Water-logging

On Raj Bhavan Road, a tree fell in the middle of the road causing a major traffic block for nearly an hour.

Some small trees and branches also fell near Cauvery Bhavan on KG Road. Tree falls were reported near Basavanagudi police station, Jayanagar, and Vidyapeeta Circle-Katriguppe.

Water-logging resulted in slow movement of traffic near Minto Hospital and Jayanagar and surrounding areas.

The Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board received several complaints due to heavy rain since August 16. They received over 146 complaints of sanitary blocks, manhole overflow, contamination and leakages on Tuesday.

On Wednesday, nearly 122 complaints were registered and about 60 complaints on Thursday.

Water contamination was reported in Sanjaynagar, Jayanagar 4th block, Peenya – Doddannanagar Industrial Area, Jogupalya-Ulsoor, Magadi Road, Austin Town, Cholarapalya and Seshadripuram.

The Meteorological Department has so far recorded the second highest rainfall in the last 10 years at 230.9 mm in the month of August 2011. The highest was recorded at 309.8 mm in August 2008.

Although the weather was wet all morning in the City, only 3.4 mm rainfall was recorded on Thursday. However, the maximum temperature recorded was three degrees below normal at 24.4 degree Celsius and the minimum temperature recorded was one degree above normal at 20.4 degree Celsius in the City.