Bengaluru’s notorious traffic congestion reached new heights on Thursday as multiple factors, including the Aero India airshow, metro construction, and ongoing civic work, brought several key routes to a standstill. Commuters faced severe delays, with traffic snarls reported across major corridors, including HSR Layout, Sarjapur Road, Outer Ring Road (ORR) and Doddanekundi.
The closure of a flyover near HSR Layout for metro construction work by Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) exacerbated the situation. "The road From Silk Board Junction towards HSR Layout is experiencing Severe traffic congestion, Kindly cooperate," Bengaluru Traffic Police said.
Traffic alerts were issued across the city with severe congestion reported on routes such as Varthur to Sarjapur Road, Agara to HSR Layout, and near Sakra Hospital due to ongoing BBMP work. Commuters were urged to avoid Doddanekundi village, where civil work has slowed traffic movement to a crawl.
The Aero India 2025 airshow led to heavy traffic on NH 44 (Bengaluru-Bellary Road) prompting officials to advise commuters heading to Kempegowda International Airport to use alternate routes via Hebbal, Hennur, Bagalur, and the airport’s south gate.
In a bizarre incident that went viral on social media, a woman was seen propping her laptop on her steering wheel while driving in the city. The video sparked outrage, and the woman was identified and fined Rs 1,000 for overspeeding and negligent driving. The Deputy Commissioner of Police (Traffic, North Division) took to social media platform X to remind citizens, “Work from home, not from your car while driving.”
Amid the chaos, industrialist Anand Mahindra offered a humorous take on Bengaluru’s traffic woes. The Mahindra Group Chairman tweeted, “One advantage of Bengaluru traffic: Being stationary so often makes it like a live showroom… Everyone stuck in the traffic alongside you has plenty of time to see and examine the car!”