Hold your breath, Silk Board Junction stinks

Hold your breath, Silk Board Junction stinks
New Indian Express

BANGALORE: Getting stuck at the traffic signal at Silk Board Junction can lead one beyond road rage.

The foul smell that emanates from piled-up garbage along the footpath forces commuters to hold their breath for at least 90 seconds until the traffic lights turn green.

The Bangalore Development Authority and Bangalore City Corporation successfully cleared the garbage from the drain in their month-long joint venture. But they dumped the filth on the footpath.

The recent rain has made things worse, particularly for the traffic constables. If the traffic constables sweep their hands to their faces in a futile attempt to escape the smell, do not take it for a newly found signal.

‘‘The foul smell makes it difficult to monitor the traffic, particularly at peak hours,’’ said a constable. So much for the commuters, the condition of employees of nearby Central Silk Board and Wipro offices besides shop owners on the road seems worse.

Storm water drain, which flows along Hosur Road goes wider at the Silk Board junction and garbage from other drains flows and get accumulated at this junction, pointed out Manish, an employee at Wipro.

‘‘We have informed the concerned authorities but they still ask for more time,’’ added a security officer.

While the Corporation officials said they were waiting for the desilting work to get over so that they can carry the entire garbage from the area, their counterparts in Development Authority said they could not remove the filth as there was a shortage of vehicles.

‘‘The work is still going on. But we will clear it in three days,’’ assures a BDA official.

Until then, keep your fingers crossed and nose closed so that rain does not make it worse.