On Tuesday, continuous rains left Bengaluru’s Outer Ring Road (ORR) in a near-standstill, with severe waterlogging causing massive traffic snarls. Commuters faced long delays, taking up to three hours to travel just five kilometers despite efforts by traffic authorities. Key areas like HRBR Layout, Hebbal, and Bellandur saw service roads inundated, adding to the misery.
For those working in tech zones such as Whitefield, Marathahalli, and Bellandur, the commute became a nightmare. Many reported being stranded for hours as parallel routes were also waterlogged. “I spent three hours driving home from Kalyan Nagar after work,” said Surendran K, a resident. Others faced similar delays, with vehicles stuck across arterial roads.
The situation worsened between BEL Circle and Hebbal, where a flash flood caused by the overflowing Doddabommasandra Lake brought traffic to a complete halt. Emergency measures were taken by police to keep tech park exits blocked temporarily, preventing a total traffic collapse.
With no sign of desilting or drainage repairs, water remained stagnant across ORR’s 60-kilometer stretch. Authorities admitted that they did not foresee such extreme conditions, leaving the city’s traffic infrastructure overwhelmed.
The traffic gridlock serves as a reminder of Bengaluru’s ongoing struggles with urban flooding and inadequate drainage systems during heavy rains.
Read More:
Outer Ring Road Section Collapses After Heavy Rainfall, Causes Traffic Snarls in Mahadevapura
Aloft Bengaluru Outer Ring Road Launches Weekly Seafood Festival: Ocean’s Bounty