Shivakumar Says Bengaluru’s Traffic Woes Will be for Years

Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar expressed his frustration over the current state of Bengaluru’s traffic situation, acknowledging that solving the issue in the short term is nearly impossible. During a launch event for Namma Raste, a new guidebook focused on road design and maintenance, Shivakumar humorously remarked that “even God himself cannot do anything within the next one, two, or three years” about the city’s traffic woes.

While he admitted the city’s struggles, Shivakumar reassured that the situation would improve in the long run as several major infrastructure projects, including tunnel roads and elevated corridors, come to fruition. He outlined plans for a 40-km double-decker road and the white-topping of 1,700 km of roads, with most projects expected to take three to four years to complete.

He also highlighted efforts to clear optical fibre cables obstructing roads and footpaths, threatening removal if service providers failed to adhere to guidelines.

Opposition leader R. Ashoka quickly criticized Shivakumar’s comments, blaming the traffic crisis on insufficient funding under the Congress-led government, and dismissed their plans as ineffective.

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