Festive rush: Bengaluru Police cap private bus halt time at Majestic to ease traffic chaos

With Christmas and New Year travel peaking, Bengaluru Traffic Police enforce strict stop-time limits for private buses near Majestic to prevent congestion, drawing mixed reactions from operators and commuters.

As Christmas and New Year approach, coupled with a string of holidays, Bengaluru is preparing for a sharp rise in passenger movement. One of the areas expected to face the heaviest pressure is Majestic, the city’s central transport hub, which routinely witnesses severe traffic congestion during festive seasons and long weekends.

Majestic, located in the heart of Bengaluru, serves as the first point of arrival for thousands of travellers, especially those using Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) services. Over the years, traffic congestion in this zone has been largely attributed to private buses parking indiscriminately on roads near the Majestic bus stand. These buses often halt for long periods to pick up passengers, blocking roads and causing inconvenience to pedestrians, motorists, and public transport users.

Anticipating a significant surge in outbound travel after December 25, Bengaluru Traffic Police have now introduced strict time restrictions on how long private buses can stop in and around the Majestic area. The measure aims to prevent prolonged halts that lead to traffic bottlenecks and gridlocks during peak festive hours.

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Bengaluru City Traffic Commissioner Karthik Reddy said that private buses will be allowed to stop only briefly for passenger boarding. On weekends and festival days, buses must pick up passengers and move within 30 seconds. On regular working days, the permitted halt time has been capped at one to two minutes.

“If buses exceed the prescribed time, vehicles start queuing up one behind the other, resulting in heavy congestion. To avoid this, strict time limits have been fixed and will be enforced firmly,” the Commissioner said.

Traffic police officials believe the decision will help improve traffic flow in and around Majestic, one of the busiest stretches in the city, especially during peak hours when thousands of vehicles pass through the area.

However, the move has faced opposition from the Karnataka State Bus Owners’ Association. Association representatives said the time limits are unrealistic during weekends and festival seasons. They pointed out that passengers often travel with heavy luggage, and boarding itself can take 10 to 15 minutes due to large crowds.

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“During holiday periods, it is practically impossible to load luggage and board passengers within 30 seconds. We request the authorities to reconsider the decision and allow more flexibility,” the association stated.

Despite the criticism, traffic police have indicated that the rules will be enforced in the interest of public convenience and smoother vehicular movement. Many commuters have welcomed the decision, expressing hope that it will finally ease chronic congestion in the Majestic area during the festive travel rush.