Viral post comparing East vs West Bengaluru traffic sparks big debate online

Screenshots from Google Maps showing East Bengaluru in gridlock red and West Bengaluru in free-flowing green have reignited discussions about traffic, planning, and public transport.

A viral post on X has reignited Bengaluru’s long-standing East vs West traffic debate, after screenshots of Google Maps revealed a striking contrast between the two halves of the city. The images, widely shared on Friday, showed East Bengaluru painted in deep red with traffic snarls, while West Bengaluru appeared almost entirely green, reflecting smooth traffic movement.

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Commuters were quick to weigh in on the disparity. Many pointed out that daily gridlocks in Whitefield, KR Puram, and Marathahalli are in stark contrast to the relatively stress-free drives through Rajajinagar, Vijayanagar, and Kengeri. One user commented, “Yeah, because people are traveling west to east,” while another observed that Kengeri’s traffic situation improved significantly after the metro extension, suggesting that public transport is key to reducing congestion.

Traffic Right know

BLR East. BLR West. pic.twitter.com/0tWWk6KSmO

— PulseOfBengaluru (@BLR_Stories) September 19, 2025

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Several posts analyzed the problem from an urban planning perspective, noting that West Bengaluru has a grid layout, multiple sub-arterial roads, and higher BMTC bus ridership, whereas East Bengaluru has disconnected layouts that funnel all vehicles onto a few main roads. Others highlighted the nature of development, pointing out that West Bengaluru is largely residential with fewer IT hubs, while the east is an epicenter of IT-driven growth, attracting massive daily traffic inflow.

Some residents of the west even jokingly warned against drawing too much attention to their region’s smooth commutes, with one remark reading, “Bangalore West is Bangalore’s best kept secret. Let’s keep it that way!”

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The viral post has once again brought attention to the uneven growth of Bengaluru, emphasizing the urgent need for integrated transport solutions, better road networks, and planning that can ease the pressure on the city’s IT corridors.