Cracking the code to cross Silk Board junction

Metro and expressway expected to cut down grade-level traffic at Silk Board junction by 60%  

Apart from its salubrious climate, beautiful parks, gardens, tree-lined roads, cosmopolitan nature and being a science and IT hub, what else is Bengaluru famous for? Its infamous traffic.  

During his recent visit to the city, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that steps would be taken in the coming days to decongest traffic gridlocks. Various government departments got to work soon after and conducted inspections at seven problematic junctions and announced some short and long-term plans for each junction.  

Through this series, we try to navigate these gridlocks and see if the measures have brought any relief to commuters.  

“To succeed in the IT industry in Bengaluru, you have to master a code: the code to cross the Silk Board junction,” goes a popular meme. A visit to the junction during the peak hours helps one understand why it is indeed a tough code to crack.  

If there is a shining example of Bengaluru’s traffic gridlocks, it is the Central Silk Board (CSB) junction — one of the seven junctions identified for introducing decongestion measures. Apart from attracting the ire and exasperation of those who must pass through, the junction has also inspired many a meme and even a short film!  

This junction connects several areas such as BTM Layout, HSR Layout, Koramangala and Outer Ring Road with the Central Business District (CBD). There is also a flyover above the junction which connects BTM Layout with Koramangala. The construction work for Silk Board – Hebbal metro line is also in progress at the junction.