Delhi Accelerates Key Infra Project To Ease West And Outer Traffic
Bengaluru authorities have rolled out experimental traffic diversions at the busy Devarabeesanahalli Junction from Monday to address severe congestion on the Outer Ring Road (ORR), a critical IT corridor. The area, heavily trafficked due to surrounding tech campuses and ongoing Metro construction, has been a bottleneck for thousands of commuters navigating through Bellandur, HSR Layout, and Eco World. Officials say the new routes are designed to reduce gridlock and improve commute efficiency, with early results showing travel time cut by nearly 30 minutes.
Traffic police managing the zone confirmed the changes were introduced after reviewing choke points in the ORR stretch. The Metro works had already narrowed usable carriageways, compounding delays during peak hours. The diversions are also expected to ease mounting pressure on feeder roads like Passport Service Road and Kadubeesanahalli Junction. If successful, the trial could become a permanent fixture. Officials are also relying on commuter feedback to make adjustments in real time as the experiment progresses. Though the diversions were initially met with some confusion, many commuters supported the move, recognising the need for immediate intervention in a corridor that supports the city’s technology and innovation sectors. The alternate routes encourage use of service roads and dedicated U-turn bays, helping distribute vehicle load more evenly. Authorities have deployed signage and on-ground personnel to assist with navigation, hoping to mitigate the initial adjustment period.
However, concerns remain over enforcement, lane discipline, and driver compliance, especially during peak rainfall hours. Experts note that Bengaluru’s traffic challenges stem from a mismatch between infrastructure growth and urban expansion. The Devarabeesanahalli initiative, while short-term, reveals how tactical traffic experiments can offer temporary relief. Long-term urban mobility solutions, however, require a deeper investment in public transport infrastructure, decongestion of arterial roads, and stronger policy on transit-oriented development. The Metro’s eventual completion is expected to ease some of the commuter burden, but until then, authorities are under pressure to keep traffic flowing through adaptive measures.While the experiment is still in its early stages, civic officials are calling on residents and tech employees to cooperate. Their feedback will be instrumental in deciding whether the plan can be institutionalised or needs modification.
With rapid urbanisation continuing along the ORR belt, the city’s success in managing traffic here could become a model for other congestion-prone zones. As Bengaluru navigates its dual identity as a global IT hub and a city under infrastructural strain, small steps like this may help bridge the widening gap between growth and liveability.
