Bengaluru to Build 300 km of Roads Along Stormwater Drains to Ease Traffic

In a bold move to tackle worsening traffic congestion, Bengaluru’s civic body, BBMP, has launched a plan to construct 300 kilometres of roads along stormwater drain buffer zones across the city.

BBMP Chief Commissioner Maheshwar Rao recently kick-started the initiative with a site visit to Hosakerehalli Kodi Road in the RR Nagar zone. He directed officials to begin road development by utilising underused land near stormwater drains. The land required for these projects, he said, can be acquired through the Transferable Development Rights (TDR) mechanism, which allows developers to receive extra building rights elsewhere in return for surrendering land for public infrastructure.

Rao also instructed BBMP teams to immediately take up repair work at critical junctions in the area to smooth traffic flow.

This local push is part of a broader city-wide effort under the ‘Sanchara Yukta’ programme, led by Bengaluru Smart Infrastructure Limited (B-SMILE). BS Prahallad, Technical Director at B-SMILE, said the larger plan envisions constructing 300 km of roads along stormwater drains, with RR Nagar alone set to benefit from 70 km of new roads.

The plan is to strategically utilize buffer zones — areas that tend to be underutilized — to increase road capacity and connectivity. Prahallad added that these roads would not only relieve traffic bottlenecks but also “enhance access among neighborhoods, especially where monsoon flooding is a problem.”

By building roads over stormwater drains, the project aims to achieve twin goals: enhancing mobility and raising the city’s rain-reliance in the monsoon season.

The project is expected to significantly improve infrastructure and city planning in Bengaluru’s most congested traffic spots, giving relief to commuters.