Bengaluru traffic woes get a fix: IPS officer Karthik Reddy’s action plan in motion

Bengaluru, a city long plagued by chronic traffic congestion, is now seeing a glimmer of hope with the appointment of IPS officer Karthik Reddy as the new Joint Commissioner of Police (Traffic). With a staggering 1.2 crore vehicles for a population of 1.4 crore, the city’s roadways have become infamous for daily gridlocks. In response, Reddy has introduced a comprehensive strategy to ease congestion, clear bottlenecks, and enforce strict road discipline.

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Major choke points targeted

Reddy identified around 40 key choke points, with a heavy concentration in East Bengaluru, especially around the Outer Ring Road (ORR) between Central Silk Board and KR Puram. Travel time through this stretch during peak hours is alarmingly high. Efforts are being coordinated with BBMP, BESCOM, and ORRCA to tackle this persistent problem.

Parking violations under the scanner

Parking in no-parking zones has emerged as a silent traffic killer. To combat this, Reddy has mandated rigorous patrolling and fines to ensure compliance. The focus is on keeping vital road space free from obstruction.

Critical junction improvements

1. Kumbalgodu Chaos: Post- Mysuru Expressway traffic is bottlenecked at the Kumbalgodu flyover due to merging confusion. Talks with the NHAI are in progress to widen the road and improve flow.
2. Sarjapur Road pressure: Devarabisanahalli junction, a major pinch point, is being studied for signal installation or radius expansion to aid smoother U-turns and reduce pile-ups.
3. Hebbal Flyover: A notorious congestion zone, this flyover will soon see relief with two new ramps. One is nearing completion and the second will follow in three months. Reddy anticipates a 50% reduction in congestion once both are operational.
4. Central Silk Board Woes: Metro construction has worsened waterlogging issues here. BMRC has been instructed to remove debris for smoother movement.

Revival of the Towing Force

In a major move, the Traffic Department is bringing back a structured towing system. Officers will soon be able to remove illegally parked or broken-down vehicles swiftly. Around 4-5 breakdowns of heavy vehicles per day currently block lanes and stall traffic. BMTC and other agencies will station wreckers at 6-7 hotspots to ensure prompt clearance during peak hours. Long-abandoned vehicles will also be traced and removed with the help of law enforcement.