Bengaluru: Commuters on Bengaluru’s notorious Outer Ring Road (ORR) may soon see relief from daily traffic chaos, potholes, and flooding. In a high-level inspection on Thursday, Chief Secretary Shalini Rajneesh personally toured key bottlenecks — from Silk Board Junction to Panathur Road — and issued strict directions to officials for immediate road repairs, junction upgrades, and pedestrian safety measures.
Speaking to officials on-site, Rajneesh stressed that Outer Ring Road is the lifeline of Bengaluru’s IT corridor, carrying lakhs of vehicles daily, and the government has “a duty to ensure safe, motorable, and congestion-free roads.”
Key Highlights of the Inspection:
Silk Board Junction:
- Comprehensive development plan ordered for one of the city’s busiest choke points.
- Stormwater drain desilting to be carried out regularly to prevent waterlogging.
- Skywalk construction to be fast-tracked by the Metro department for pedestrian safety.
- Debris and scrap materials dumped by Metro works to be cleared immediately.
- Metro flyover expansion from 25m to 45m to be completed by June 2026.
HSR Layout (5th & 6th Sector):
- Median and service roads near Mangammanapalya Main Road to be cleaned and fixed.
- Officials instructed to install proper drainage to prevent water stagnation.
- Encroachments and misplaced electric poles near road bends to be corrected.
Agara Lake Road & Junction:
- White-topping works on Agara Lake Road to be completed at an accelerated pace.
- Roads temporarily patched with wet mix; long-term resurfacing to follow.
- Broken pipes on the Agara flyover spilling rainwater onto roads to be replaced immediately.
Iblur Junction:
- Skywalk construction mandated for pedestrian safety.
- Feasibility study ordered for a “magic box underpass” to ease traffic.
- Roads leading to Marathahalli to be redesigned by merging service roads with the main carriageway.
Panathur Main Road:
- Road described as “completely dilapidated” by Rajneesh.
- Sanitary overflows to be stopped; pedestrian slabs and drains to be rebuilt.
- Road widening works to be expedited.
Vibgyor School Road (Thubarahalli):
- Drainage and road work to be completed on priority.
- No debris to be left after works; water flow systems to be aligned under disaster management laws.
Why This Matters for Bengalureans:
- Commuter Safety: Skywalks and pedestrian-friendly pathways at Silk Board and Iblur are aimed at reducing accidents.
- Flood Prevention: Drains and stormwater management to cut down monsoon flooding at Silk Board, Panathur, and Ecospace areas.
- Traffic Relief: Better access ramps along the ORR could reduce congestion by 30–40%, according to officials.
- Accountability: Departments like BMRCL, BWSSB, and BESCOM have been warned to restore road surfaces post-work, with signboards mandating responsibility.
For the lakhs of tech employees, cab drivers, and residents who battle bumper-to-bumper traffic and crater-filled roads every day, the Chief Secretary’s inspection is more than just an official ritual — it’s a promise of accountability. By clicking photos herself and confronting contractors on delays, Shalini Rajneesh signaled that Bengaluru’s citizens deserve better, safer roads now, not in the distant future.
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