Mangaluru: A KSRTC bus broke down on Kankanady Old Road on Saturday afternoon, causing major disruption to vehicular movement and forcing traffic police to divert vehicles entering Mangaluru from Pumpwell through Nanthoor and Shivabagh.
The incident occurred at around 12.30 pm on the one-way stretch between Pumpwell and Kankanady. With the stranded bus completely blocking the carriageway, vehicles were unable to proceed towards Kankanady, prompting traffic police to introduce an immediate diversion.
Vehicles diverted through Nanthoor
Following the breakdown, vehicles approaching the city from Pumpwell were directed towards Nanthoor and then through the Shivabagh stretch.
The sudden diversion placed additional pressure on roads that were already experiencing considerable traffic movement. Traffic began to build up at Nanthoor junction, while the Kadri-Shivabagh stretch also witnessed long queues of vehicles.
The congestion quickly spread as motorists attempting to avoid the blocked Kankanady road were redirected through the alternative route.
The disruption was particularly difficult for commuters travelling towards Kankanady and other parts of central Mangaluru, as the diversion added both distance and travel time to their journeys.
School vehicles add to congestion
The fact that the incident occurred on a Saturday afternoon further aggravated the situation. A large number of school vehicles were on the roads while transporting students home, contributing to the traffic build-up around Nanthoor and Shivabagh.
With the main route blocked and alternative roads becoming congested, several commuters were left with few options. Some people were seen getting down from vehicles at Pumpwell and walking towards Kankanady to avoid being caught in the traffic jam.
The presence of pedestrians along the busy stretch added another challenge for motorists attempting to navigate the congested roads.
Traffic police personnel were deployed to manage the situation and regulate the movement of vehicles following the bus breakdown.
Weekend rush worsens traffic situation
Traffic congestion continued into the evening in several parts of Mangaluru, with the weekend holiday adding to the volume of vehicles on city roads.
The ongoing preparations and shopping for Ganesha Chaturthi also contributed to the heavy traffic. With the festival approaching, residents were out purchasing flowers, fruits, pooja materials, decorations and other items required for the celebrations.
Major commercial areas recorded bumper-to-bumper traffic as shoppers and commuters converged on the city centre.
Hampankatta, State Bank and Lady Goschen Road were among the areas where heavy traffic movement was reported. The congestion was not limited to the central business district, with several other important junctions and roads also witnessing delays.
Congestion reported across city
Heavy traffic was also reported at Lalbagh, Ambedkar Circle, Bunts Hostel, Kadri, Bejai and the KSRTC junction.
The simultaneous congestion at multiple locations made travelling across the city particularly difficult during the afternoon and evening hours.
The disruption at Kankanady was significant because the affected road serves as an important link for vehicles entering the city from Pumpwell. Once the KSRTC bus became immobile, traffic had to be redistributed onto other roads, creating additional pressure on the surrounding network.
The situation highlights the vulnerability of traffic movement when vehicles break down on narrow or one-way stretches carrying a high volume of traffic.
Traffic disruption causes commuter inconvenience
For commuters, the combination of the bus breakdown, diversion, school traffic and festival shopping rush resulted in considerable inconvenience.
Vehicles that would normally travel directly from Pumpwell towards Kankanady were forced to take the Nanthoor route. As traffic accumulated at the diversion points, journey times increased and movement became slow.
The situation was particularly challenging for those travelling during the afternoon peak, while the continuing weekend and festival-related rush kept traffic volumes high into the evening.
The incident also underlined the importance of quickly clearing stalled heavy vehicles from busy city roads to prevent local disruptions from spreading to adjoining routes.
With Ganesha Chaturthi celebrations approaching and shopping activity expected to remain high, traffic movement is likely to remain busy across Mangaluru in the coming days. Any further breakdowns or road obstructions on key routes could potentially result in widespread congestion unless alternative traffic arrangements are implemented promptly.