Bengaluru traffic jam conditions intensified across the city’s major exit routes on Friday night and Saturday as Dasara travellers left for their hometowns, with rain, vehicle queues and overcrowded transport hubs slowing movement for motorists and passengers.
Traffic remained severely affected from Friday evening until late night and continued through Saturday, according to a report by Prajavani. Vehicles were lined up from Goraguntepalya to Nagasandra on Tumakuru Road, with queues extending towards Nelamangala. Motorists faced difficulty moving forward as thousands travelled out of the city in private cars and two-wheelers.
The Peenya flyover also witnessed long queues. On Mysuru Road, vehicles heading towards Mysuru took considerable time to reach the expressway. Traffic congestion was also reported around Majestic on Saturday night, while private vehicles moving along Hosur Road and Ballari Road added to the pressure on the city’s road network.
Rain that began on Saturday evening further disrupted movement. Although the rainfall was not described as heavy, waterlogging on some roads created additional difficulty for motorists. Drizzle continued until late night, worsening already slow traffic conditions.
The congestion extended beyond roads to Bengaluru’s main public transport points. Large crowds were reported at the railway station, Shantinagar bus station and Yeshwanthpur railway station. Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation and private buses were packed with passengers travelling to different cities and towns.
The increased movement was linked to the Dasara holiday period, with many residents travelling from Bengaluru towards destinations including Dharmasthala, Udupi, Mangaluru, Horanadu and Sringeri from Friday night. A similar volume of passengers was seen leaving the city on Saturday.
The Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation had arranged special services for the festival period. These included Karnataka Sarige, Vayavya-style Rajahamsa services, sleeper buses, Airavata, Airavata Club Class multi-axle buses, EV Power Plus services, Ambari Club Class, Ambari Utsav and Pallakki buses to various cities.
Traffic police worked to keep vehicles moving amid the sustained pressure on the outbound corridors. Police security was also strengthened at railway and bus stations because of the large passenger crowds.
The disruption exposed the combined pressure placed on Bengaluru’s road and public transport systems when festival travel coincides with rainfall. The most affected routes were the main corridors leading towards northern, southern and western Karnataka, while congestion around major terminals reflected the simultaneous demand for private vehicles, buses and trains. The report did not provide an official estimate of the number of vehicles or passengers involved.
Special bus operations and police deployment were the immediate measures reported during the Dasara travel period. Traffic conditions were continuing to be managed across the affected roads and transport hubs as passengers travelled out of Bengaluru.
