Once again, on Wednesday night, Bengaluru fell prey to its notorious traffic miseries when heavy rainfall triggered an all-night jam on the Electronic City flyover. Thousands of stranded commuters, many of them IT professionals, were there for over three hours, with some abandoning their vehicles and proceeding on foot back to their homes. Videos uploaded on social media depicted several frustrated persons leaving their cars behind searching for a home.
The flooding in Roopena Agrahara, on a crucial route connecting the tech corridor from Tamil Nadu to the city center of Bengaluru, further exacerbated traffic congestion. Large puddles of rainwater on the road led the traffic police in Bengaluru to shut down one side of the flyover, easing further congestion.
Though the water-logged streets had cleared up by morning, stagnant water remained in Kendriya Vihar Apartments, Yelahanka, among other places, causing residents harrowing problems.
Angry commuters took to social media to vent their ire. Many users questioned why companies had not adhered to the Karnataka government’s advice to allow employees to work from home. The recommendation had been made on October 23 as part of the administration’s action given the weather.
One commuter said he had been stuck on the Electronic City flyover for the past one-and-a-half hours, whereas he should have reached home that time, which is 30 km away from his office. The user added that they logged out at 5:20 PM but were still trapped, and many employees started walking.
Another user warned people not to start their journey from Electronic City since crossing the area took four times longer than usual, even on a two-wheeler.
With Bengaluru again facing the familiar problem, commuters are left wondering whether the city will be able to overcome its continuous traffic problem, especially when heavy rain showers lash the city.
