As heavy rain and subsequent flooding crippled traffic on the Outer Ring Road (ORR) on Tuesday (June 2), the Outer Ring Road Companies’ Association (ORRCA) has demanded an integrated stormwater infrastructure that matches the scale and density of Bengaluru’s IT corridor. 

While acknowledging the immediate trigger as the intense pre-monsoon downpour, it flagged blocked and poorly maintained drains, the encroachment of rajakaluves, bottlenecks at lake interconnections and culverts, and the ongoing infrastructure and metro construction as the root causes for the recurring problem. 

Patchwork not enough

“We have been pressing for a holistic solution. Unfortunately, in the midst of the rain, it’s almost impossible to do that. It should have been done earlier, but even now, it’s not too late if the officials put in a concerted effort to address the problem,” said Manas Das, president of the ORRCA. 

“Basic things like cleaning up roadside drains and ensuring that the potholes are fixed can be done immediately. One problem leads to another. If potholes are there, water accumulates, and puddles further weaken the road. The solution requires continuous monitoring and holistic fixes, not simply patchwork,” he added. 

Action sought

It is estimated that more than 8 lakh commuters use the 17 km stretch of the ORR between K.R. Puram and Silk Board during peak hours. 

Seeking action from the Greater Bengaluru Authority, the association reiterated that the solution to the flooding woes is not just better roads. It demanded fast-tracking the desilting and cleaning of all stormwater drains before the peak monsoon, removing encroachments, and restoring the original drain widths.

It also called for a corridor-wide drainage capacity assessment and an upgrade of bottleneck culverts, and to implement a real-time flood monitoring and rapid-response mechanism for critical ORR junctions.