Bengaluru: Traffic police, civic agencies, and IT firms unite to tackle Outer Ring Road congestion

Bengaluru’s traffic police have initiated a multi-agency effort to address severe congestion during the morning peak hour, particularly along the Outer Ring Road (ORR), a hub for the city’s IT industry. A high-level coordination meeting was held involving officials from the BBMP, BMTC, and traffic department, along with representatives from IT companies and industry associations.

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To ease the 9–10 am bottleneck, the traffic police proposed staggered office timings starting from 7:30 am and encouraged mid-week Work From Home (WFH) on Wednesdays. The aim is to reduce the simultaneous influx of vehicles and better distribute traffic volumes throughout the day.

Civil agencies have been directed to fast-track infrastructure works along the ORR. BMTC agreed to deploy air-conditioned buses for tech employees, while companies were urged to introduce shuttle services. Plans are also underway to interconnect tech parks to streamline movement.

To aid planning, surveillance cameras will track traffic patterns over a three-day period. Recommendations from the IT sector included strict enforcement of staggered shifts, expanded public transport, and carpooling initiatives. They also sought a ban on heavy vehicles during peak hours and contingency plans for vehicle breakdowns.

The industry called for immediate towing of illegally parked vehicles, more traffic marshals, and employee volunteers to manage traffic inside tech campuses. All stakeholders agreed to collaborate closely to implement solutions and ease congestion in one of Bengaluru’s most gridlocked corridors.