White-topping work on Residency Road brings traffic chaos to central Bengaluru

The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike began white-topping a 280-metre stretch from Ashirvadam junction (near St Joseph’s PU College) to Opera junction (near Brigade Road). 
| Photo Credit: K. MURALI KUMAR

Motorists and commuters passing through the central business district (CBD) will have to brace for challenges as white-topping work on Residency Road is expected to continue amid the rain.

The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) began white-topping a 280-metre stretch from Ashirvadam junction (near St Joseph’s PU College) to Opera junction (near Brigade Road) on May 8. While the official deadline is May 31, motorists and shopkeepers are sceptical that the civic body will meet it, especially with the onset of the rain.

Over the past week, the stretch has seen hours-long traffic jams every day, with spillover congestion reported on key roads across the CBD, including Richmond Road, Convent Road, St Mark’s Road, Hosur Road, and Anil Kumble Circle.

Traffic jam around Museum road, Residency Road, Hosur road, owing to white-topping work.
| Photo Credit:
K. MURALI KUMAR

When The Hindu visited the stretch on Monday, no labourers were seen working at the construction site owing to the heavy rain. Muddy slush and barricades blocked much of the road, further complicating traffic movement. “Despite knowing the monsoon is around the corner, BBMP started the white-topping work. This shows how little they consider the public’s convenience,” said Prakash M., a shopkeeper on Residency Road.

Traffic police have advised motorists to plan alternative routes and expect delays. “The BBMP was allowed to start the work during the summer vacation period as several schools in the area are shut,” a senior officer told The Hindu.

Mahesh Naik, a daily commuter, questioned the timing and planning. “When schools are open, this stretch is already packed with bumper-to-bumper traffic. With rain and half-done work, I doubt the BBMP will finish it before classes resume, since some schools are set to reopen before the May 31 deadline. If BBMP doesn’t complete the work, it will be a nightmare for everyone,” he said.

With monsoon expected early this year, Bengaluru residents fear a prolonged gridlock in the CBD area. Another commuter, Sangeetha R., an IT professional whose office is on M.G. Road, said the traffic situation is already affecting her routine. “Last week, I had to wait over an hour and 30 minutes just to cross a half-kilometre stretch on Residency Road. Imagine what will happen when schools reopen and more vehicles flood the road. The BBMP should’ve either completed this before the rains or waited till after the monsoon. Now it’s just chaos,” she said.

Subhas J.P., a student at one of the prominent colleges on the stretch, said that even though schools haven’t reopened yet, college students are already facing severe traffic issues and missing classes. “Since I attend evening college, I get stuck in peak-hour traffic. This situation will only worsen once schools reopen next week,” he added.

Despite repeated instructions from the police asking schools along the stretch not to allow school buses and parents’ vehicles to park on the main road and to instead use their own playgrounds, the schools continue to ignore these directives.

A traffic police official said: “Schools along this stretch must follow our instructions. They continue to park school buses on the road, despite us repeatedly asking them to use their own grounds. We hope they will cooperate this time.”

Alternative routes

Meanwhile, the traffic police have announced alternative routes to ease congestion in certain areas. Vehicles heading towards HAL airport and Marathahalli from Richmond Circle and the Richmond flyover via St. Mark’s Road are advised to take a left at Ashirvadam Circle and continue through SBI junction and Anil Kumble Circle.

For those travelling towards Adugodi from St. Mark’s Road via Hosur Road, the recommended route is through Residency Road, Convent Road, Richmond Road, Rhenius Cross Road, Nanjappa Circle, and CMP Centre junction.

Commuters heading towards M.G. Road from Anepalya junction on Hosur Road should proceed via Cemetery Cross Road, Nanjappa Circle, Richmond Circle, RRMR Circle, Siddalingaiah Circle, and Anil Kumble Circle.

Meanwhile, vehicles moving towards Viveknagar and Halasuru from Anepalya Circle should take a u-turn at Old PS junction and continue their journey via Campbell junction and Mother Teresa junction.