Bengaluru traffic worsens due to metro work and heavy rain

Bengaluru’s daily gridlock has intensified over the past week as torrential rain and large-scale metro construction have brought parts of the city to a standstill, pushing its fragile transport infrastructure to a breaking point.

Commuters along the Outer Ring Road corridor, particularly between Mahadevapura and Marathahalli and in pockets like Nagawara and Hennur Junction, are experiencing unprecedented delays due to heavy congestion and crumbling road conditions. The situation has laid bare the severe strain on the city’s urban mobility, highlighting the long-standing gap between infrastructural promises and on-ground realities in one of India’s most vital tech and innovation hubs.

According to the TomTom Traffic Index 2023, Bengaluru continues to rank among the worst cities globally for road congestion. It now takes over 28 minutes to traverse 10 kilometres during peak hours, translating to an annual average of 132 hours lost in traffic per commuter. These numbers have become more than just statistics for city dwellers; they represent hours away from family, reduced productivity, and daily mental stress. Despite state and municipal efforts to address the problem through expansive metro extensions and smart mobility initiatives, relief seems distant for the average commuter. The current construction work linked to the Namma Metro Phase 2 project, while essential for long-term sustainability, has disrupted major arterial routes without adequate alternative planning, triggering online outcry and civic anxiety.

Social media has become a sounding board for public frustration, with several users sharing footage of flooded, pothole-ridden roads and posing uncomfortable questions about the utilisation of taxpayer money. The frustration reflects a broader lack of confidence in public infrastructure management, especially as the city’s growth far outpaces its mobility solutions. With the IT corridor and business parks reliant on seamless connectivity, the congestion not only affects quality of life but could also have long-term ramifications for investor confidence and urban planning credibility.

As of April 18, traffic police continue to issue advisories urging commuters to opt for alternate routes where feasible. However, rerouting remains a temporary fix in a city with limited redundancy in its transport grid. What Bengaluru urgently needs is a layered approach to urban transport—one that balances immediate traffic decongestion with sustainable, eco-sensitive mobility infrastructure. Until then, for many residents, daily commutes remain a test of patience in a city at the crossroads of progress and planning paralysis.

Bengaluru traffic worsens due to metro work and heavy rain