Multiple infrastructure projects and rain: ORR’s terrible traffic cocktail

Bengaluru: Over 20 ongoing infrastructural projects by multiple agencies, combined with the usual Tuesday morning traffic, resulted in severe congestion along the Outer Ring Road (ORR) in eastern Bengaluru, according to the city traffic police.

"The BMRCL is working on the ORR metro line, including electric cabling, while the BBMP is clearing stormwater drains and undertaking white-topping work on roads leading to the ORR," said MN Anucheth, Joint Commissioner of Police (Traffic).

"The BWSSB is involved in the Cauvery Stage 5 project and underground drain work along the ORR. All these activities are happening simultaneously, reducing road space," he added.

White-topping works, which began in November, are expected to take two months to complete, as per BBMP.

Roads leading to and around the ORR, including the service road, Vibgyor School Road, Gear School Road, Bellandur Lake Road, and Panathur Main Road experienced heavy congestion on Tuesday. Panathur Main Road is also undergoing road widening at S Cross.

Monday's rains, which continued into the night, exacerbated the situation on Tuesday morning, causing several roads to be waterlogged.

By 5:30 am on Tuesday, the Bengaluru city observatory of the Meteorological Centre, IMD, recorded 39.5 mm of rain since 8.30 am on Monday. The HAL observatory recorded 33 mm, and by 5.30 pm on Tuesday, the city observatory noted 21.2 mm of rainfall.

"The rate of rainfall, rather than the total amount, causes significant issues. If the rate exceeds 10 to 12 mm per hour, we see roads and traffic getting affected," Anucheth explained, noting this was an internal observation.

By 11.30 am, congestion worsened from Marathahalli towards Hebbal due to persistent waterlogging at Ramamurthy Nagar underpass and other areas.

Civic works along Silk Board-Marathahalli ORR stretch

BMRCL: Metro and cabling work, including station works at Iblur and Bellandur junctions.

BBMP: White-topping of Sakra Hospital Road and Doddanekundi Main Road, road widening at Panathur S Cross.

BWSSB: Manhole work near Salapuria Softzone, underground drain work near Marathahalli and Panathur Main Road, and water line works.