On Holi, Bengaluru’s notorious Outer Ring Road (ORR) experienced an unexpected break from its usual heavy traffic congestion, offering a rare sight of smooth-flowing traffic. A city resident shared images of a deserted stretch of ORR on X (formerly Twitter), with a Google Maps screenshot showing a blue line, symbolizing clear roads and no traffic jams. The post humorously captioned, “Today’s Holi, Namma Bengaluru ORR traffic has taken a Holi-Day,” highlighting the peacefulness on the road during the festival.
ORR, which connects key IT hubs in the city, is often jam-packed, particularly during peak hours. However, on this occasion, the streets were almost empty, allowing for smooth travel. The post quickly gained attention, with many users commenting on the significant difference from the usual gridlock. One user noted, “This is THE ideal travel time… unfortunately, on normal days, 1 km takes 35 minutes.”
In response to Bengaluru’s ongoing traffic challenges, the recent inspection of ORR by the ORR Companies Association (ORRCA) and civic authorities highlights the city’s efforts to improve infrastructure. During their early morning drive from Silk Board to KR Puram, officials focused on identifying critical infrastructure issues and finding actionable solutions for better traffic flow.
As part of this initiative, BBMP reaffirmed its commitment to the Zero-Pothole Drive, ensuring timely pothole repairs and road maintenance to improve daily commutes. Additionally, the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) has pledged to complete its pipeline work by March 2025 while restoring dug-up roads overnight to minimize disruptions.
These steps are part of a broader effort to enhance Bengaluru’s road conditions, which will hopefully lead to smoother journeys and fewer traffic bottlenecks in the future.
Read also: