Karnataka - Bangalore

BBMP clears encroachments on storm water drain

— Photo: K. Murali Kumar

To check flooding: Authorities of the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike removing encroachments on the storm water drain on Mysore Road, near Rajarajeshwari Nagar arch, in Bangalore on Sunday.

BANGALORE: Traffic on the busy Mysore Road was affected owing to clearing of encroachments on the storm water drain between Bangalore University Gate and Rajarajeshwari Gate on Sunday.

The demolition operation which began on Saturday continued on Sunday and the work is expected to take a couple of more days.

Traffic towards the city from the University Gate was diverted to the opposite lane and was made to rejoin the lane near the Rajarajeshwari Gate (for around 400 metres).

Evening hours witnessed heavy traffic jam on Mysore Road as scores of people who had gone for festival and weekend celebrations began returning to their homes. KSRTC buses from Mysore were diverted via the university and Vijayanagar to reach the Kempe Gowda Bus Station.

A spokesperson of the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) said that the civic body had demolished the compound wall and the entry gate of The Club, opposite to Rajarajeshwari Gate among other small encroachments. The demolition was to widen the storm water drain from the Nayandahalli Lake which had narrowed because of large-scale encroachments.

The BBMP demolished 10 structures in Bhadrappa Layout in Hebbal on Sunday. These structures had come up on the storm water drain leading to the Hebbal Lake and had been responsible for constant flooding in surrounding areas during rains, the spokesperson said. The demolition opened up 600 sq. m. of drain area.

He added that the civic body also undertook demolition of encroachments in and around Puttenahalli Lake in J.P. Nagar where heavy flooding was witnessed during the recent rain.

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