Waterlogging freezes traffic

Waterlogging freezes traffic
Survey Identifies 316 Vulnerable Points In City
A T Subrahmanya | TNN

Bangalore: MS Building. When rain lashes the city, there is extensive waterlogging on the road, hindering free flow of traffic.
Bannerghatta Road, Tilak Nagar Cross. Try to avoid this stretch when it rains. Sewage seeping out of manholes gets mixed with rain water and turns the road into a murky pond. Here too, traffic piles up due to vehicles trying to take a turn.
These are just two examples of a widespread problem in the city. Whenever it rains, it pours misery and woes. Commuters take a big risk while negotiating waterlogged roads and policemen have a tough time managing traffic in such conditions.
These black spots or grey areas on the road, which are the root cause for traffic-related problems, are often discussed but civic stakeholders don’t put permanent solutions in place. In a survey, the Bangalore traffic police identified grey areas in terms of waterlogging and seepage and made a list of 316 points. This list was submitted to the BBMP in October 2007, but not much action has been taken.
“Unfortunately, it’s not in our purview to look after infrastructural problems but we are blamed for the traffic pile-up every time it rains,’’ traffic police officials said.
The report clearly pointed out the weak points on the roads. While some police limits like Byatarayanapura and Banaswadi have more than 30 points, others like Shivajinagar, Upparpet, Jayanagar, Cubbon Park, Ulsoor, Airport Road, Indiranagar, Malleswaram and Magadi Road have more than 10 points.
Though the traffic police had two meetings with BBMP officials, there’s no urgency about taking corrective measures. Very recently, some repair work was started at the Silk Board junction and in front of BMTC terminal, Shanthinagar.
But BBMP commissioner S Subramanya said: “Clearing junctions is a routine thing. We clean these places very often and they are not called waterlogged parts but low-lying places. There are several places like Nayandahalli, Puttenahalli and Shivajinagar where this problem exists. We already had six rounds of meeting with traffic officials in the past year. We’ll have one more next week.’’
Perennially waterlogged points
In front of Atria Hotel on Palace Road
Ambedkar Junction opposite MS Building
Entrance to Cubbon Park, Hudson Circle
Siddalingaiah Circle, entrance to Cubbon Park
BDA surface pass near Palace Cross Junction
Effect on roads
Rain or water has a telling impact on bitumen. With constant seepage of liquid on to the road, the bitumen gets corroded. Waterlogging happens when adequate shoulder drain facility is not provided for excess water to run off. Road experts recommend plastic roads — bitumen mixture comprising good composition of plastic (normally plastic waste) for long-lasting surface.
toiblr.reporter@timesgroup.com