Bengaluru: Just days after the much-publicised inauguration of the Hebbal Flyover Loop, aerial footage of the junction has triggered a wave of reactions online. The video, shared by aerial content creator Srihari Karanth, shows long lines of vehicles crawling through the area during peak hours, raising questions about the loop’s effectiveness in easing congestion.
Viral video sparks debate
The footage, captioned “The Hebbal junction during peak hour after the inauguration of the new flyover!”, has already crossed 30,000 views on X (formerly Twitter). While some users praised the infrastructure upgrade, many expressed disappointment, pointing out that traffic congestion at the junction remained largely unchanged.
One commuter remarked, “Nothing has changed, this is at around 11.30 am yesterday,” while another commented that the traffic had merely shifted to other choke points, such as Metro Circle and Ganganagar Shell Petroleum station.
Several social media users suggested similar aerial documentation of other congested areas like Mekhri Circle to better understand the extent of the city’s bottlenecks. Others stressed that building more flyovers and underpasses cannot resolve the problem, with one user noting, “No change, build how many flyovers or underpasses, finally, only solution is mass transport systems.”
Projected benefits vs. reality
The Hebbal Flyover Loop, a 700-metre-long structure built at a cost of ₹80 crore, was inaugurated by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy CM DK Shivakumar earlier this week. Shivakumar, who ceremonially rode a vintage Yezdi RoadKing motorcycle over the flyover, had hailed the project as a “game changer” that would improve commute quality and reduce congestion by at least 30 per cent.
The loop is strategically important as it connects traffic bound for Kempegowda International Airport, northern Bengaluru suburbs, and key IT corridors. The junction has long been notorious for gridlocks, especially during peak travel hours, with commuters often spending significant time navigating through the stretch.
Wider push for infrastructure upgrades
The Hebbal Loop is part of a broader government initiative to decongest Bengaluru’s critical junctions. Authorities have been investing heavily in flyovers, signal-free corridors, and upgraded road networks to cope with the city’s rapidly growing vehicular population, which now exceeds 1.2 crore.
Despite these measures, experts and commuters alike argue that road infrastructure alone cannot resolve Bengaluru’s traffic woes. Transport planners have consistently emphasised the importance of strengthening mass public transport systems, including the Namma Metro expansion, suburban rail, and better integration of bus services.
Public frustration continues
For many Bengaluru residents, the video only reaffirmed their daily struggle with traffic. While the government has highlighted the benefits of the new infrastructure, the immediate on-ground experience appears to have left citizens sceptical.
“Traffic is still the same. Hebbal is always a nightmare during office hours,” another user commented, underlining the need for comprehensive, multimodal transport solutions instead of piecemeal projects.
Conclusion
Although the Hebbal Flyover Loop represents a significant investment in easing traffic, public reactions suggest that it may not be a silver bullet solution. With gridlock persisting despite the inauguration, Bengaluru’s long-standing traffic challenges continue to demand a broader, integrated approach that prioritises mass transport over additional flyovers.