Residents of Bengaluru’s Silk Board junction are outraged as a long-standing garbage dump and foul stench continue to mar the busy area, highlighting the city’s waste management challenges.
Bengaluru’s Silk Board junction, infamous for its long traffic jams, is now drawing public anger over a sprawling garbage dump and foul stench that residents say have persisted for years. A Reddit post featuring photos of piled-up waste and sewage near the underpass went viral this week, triggering a civic debate on why such conditions have become a “symbol” of the junction. The post, written by a commuter using the route for more than four years, questioned whether the dump was meant to be temporary or has become permanent. Other users claimed the waste has been there for a decade, with repeated complaints to BBMP allegedly ignored. Some blamed metro works while others responded sarcastically, calling the dump a “landmark.”
Commuters say the stench is so strong that many wear masks or cover their noses while passing. Civic officials have yet to address the concerns, although Bengaluru Solid Waste Management Ltd recently intensified its anti-plastic drive and cleared several black spots elsewhere. Authorities cite ongoing infrastructure projects—including a new bus stand, metro lines, and flyovers—for delaying a complete clean-up of Silk Board. Residents fear the dump will remain until construction ends.
Business leaders such as Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw have also criticised the city’s waste management, citing incompetence and lack of civic sense. Many users urged citizens to act responsibly and officials to give pourakarmikas better training and equipment. Despite civic drives and fines, Silk Board remains an enduring symbol of Bengaluru’s garbage crisis and crumbling urban infrastructure.