Flyover triggers floods?

Flyover triggers floods?
Deccan Herald

The inauguration of the flyover connecting Indiranagar to Koramangala on Wednesday may have brought cheer to road users, but residents of HAL II Stage are frowning with apprehension.

The inauguration of the flyover connecting Indiranagar to Koramangala on Wednesday may have brought cheer to road users, but residents of HAL II Stage are frowning with apprehension.

It is not the increased vehicular traffic they fear, they are worried that the flyover might trigger floods in their locality.

Members of the HAL II Stage Residents’ Welfare Association participated in the inaugural function, not to join in in the celebrations, but to present a memorandum to Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy expressing their woes.

Downward slope

According to M Chandra Reddy, President of the Association, the newly-laid road has a downward slope and thanks to insufficient drainage facilities, the water could flow into the low-lying residential bylanes.

“There has been no concern for local residents when the flyover was built. We never had a flooding problem until a few years ago, now we live in dread every monsoon,” Reddy said.

The storm water drain, running along the flyover, has only increased their problems.

Yet to recover from last October’s deluge, which claimed one life in the area, the residents feel the primary drain is choked with construction debris of the flyover, resulting in overflow after heavy rains.

“The situation is so bad, there are old-time residents who have either sold their houses or given it on rent and shifted to other places,” said K K Gopalakrishnan, Vice-President of the association, added.

BDA responds

Meanwhile, BDA Commissioner M K Shankarlinge Gowda assured that the storm water drain will be cleared after the completion of the project.

“The residents are fearing imaginary ghosts. There is no threat of flooding due to the flyover. We will ensure that the SWD is cleaned,” Mr Gowda said.