Bengaluru’s G.M. Palya is facing severe peak-hour traffic congestion after a residential road connecting G.M. Palya Main Road with Bairasandra Main Road was dug up for drain-line installation, forcing more vehicles into narrow internal streets and creating safety risks for motorists and pedestrians.
The affected crossroad serves as an alternative route between the two main roads and also carries traffic travelling towards Bairasandra Main Road. It passes by the rear gate of Bagmane Tech Park, making it an important link for office-goers during the morning and evening rush.
Sakshath, a daily commuter, said hundreds of employees use the road to reach Bairasandra Main Road, but its limited width and the narrow connecting stretches have contributed to the congestion. Several small apartment complexes and individual houses are located along G.M. Palya Main Road and the adjoining roads, increasing the number of residents exposed to the disruption.
Residents said the ongoing works have brought persistent honking and a sharp rise in vehicular movement within the layout. Suma R., who lives in the neighbourhood, said the congestion was largely confined to peak hours and eased after 11 a.m. She attributed a substantial part of the problem to haphazard driving on the narrow roads.
Ms. Suma suggested deploying at least two traffic police personnel on the stretch until the civic works are completed. She said traffic management during peak hours could help regulate vehicle movement and reduce the conflict between through traffic, local residents, pedestrians and vehicles accessing homes and businesses.
The disruption is also affecting commercial activity along the main road. According to Ms. Suma, shops and other establishments have been receiving supplies only in the afternoon because traffic conditions during peak hours make deliveries difficult.
The situation highlights the operational challenges that arise when essential utility work is carried out on a road that also functions as a local traffic diversion. In G.M. Palya, the dug-up link has shifted traffic to roads that residents describe as narrow, while the absence of adequate traffic control has added to the delays and disorder.
Daily commuters have begun using social media to alert road users about the ongoing work and advise them to take alternative routes until the stretch is restored. The report did not specify the agency executing the drain project, the expected completion date or the traffic management plan for the work zone.
