Bengaluru’s Traffic Woes: A Commute Lottery Where Time Stands Still

Navigating Bengaluru’s roads has become a gamble, with travel times fluctuating wildly. A mere two kilometers can consume two hours, while the fortunate might cover five kilometers in a swift 15 minutes. This unpredictability stems from a confluence of factors, including the impact of rain, which can bring the city’s traffic to a standstill. The issue is so pervasive that distances are often measured in minutes and hours rather than kilometers. Karnataka’s Deputy CM, DK Shivakumar, proposes underground tunnel roads as a solution, sparking debate. The city’s rapid, unplanned growth, fueled by IT expansion and migration, has overwhelmed existing infrastructure. The influx of vehicles, coupled with insufficient public transport, exacerbates the problem. Recent reports indicate Bengaluru is among the slowest cities globally, with the Outer Ring Road (ORR) and the Silk Road junction being particularly congested. The Joint Commissioner of Police (Traffic) cites multiple causes, including the lack of peripheral road networks, monsoon-related waterlogging, and a high number of registered vehicles.