Kamaraj Road Reopening Delayed by 10 Days as Culvert Work Drags On

Commuters will have to wait another 10 days before Kamaraj Road reopens from Cubbon Road to Commercial Street Junction in Bengaluru, as construction of a culvert on the storm water drain at the Kamaraj Road and Nala Road Junction remains unfinished.

The project, undertaken to replace an old stone culvert with a reinforced cement concrete structure, has missed its deadline. Traffic police had initially closed the stretch towards Commercial Street from Cubbon Road Junction to prevent congestion, issuing an advisory in May for a 60-day closure. However, vehicular movement remains blocked even after more than 80 days.

The Bengaluru Central City Corporation floated a tender in May 2026 to demolish the existing structure and build the new culvert to prevent flooding along Nala Road during heavy rainfall. Officials stated that subsequent changes made to the plan delayed the execution of the work.

The prolonged closure has caused significant disruption for local businesses and residents. Traders on Kamaraj Road reported financial losses due to the lack of vehicular access. Sanaulla, a hardware shop owner in the area, said authorities had previously assured that the culvert would open for traffic by August 15, and the continuing delay has severely affected sales and his ability to pay rent.

Residents and traders along Nala Road have also raised health and sanitation concerns regarding stagnant water at the construction site. Business owner Bhaskar Naidu noted that workers failed to ensure proper water flow in the storm water drain, leading to foul odours and creating a breeding ground for mosquitoes.

Following complaints, the Commercial Street Traffic Police Inspector summoned the project contractor and instructed that the pending work be completed immediately. The contractor has provided an assurance to finish the culvert construction within 10 days, after which vehicular traffic will be allowed to resume on Kamaraj Road.