Bengaluru plans big for traffic detox: WFH Wednesdays, staggered shift hours and more

PTI photo

Bengaluru’s Outer Ring Road (ORR), known for its heavy traffic jams, especially during the morning rush hour between 9 and 10 am, is once again in the spotlight. In a recent summit involving municipal leaders, transport officials, and representatives from IT companies, new measures were discussed to tackle the recurring gridlock, the Bangalore Mirror reported.

This stretch, heavily used by employees working in the city’s IT corridor, has become a major concern for traffic authorities and city planners.

WFH Wednesdays

One of the key suggestions discussed in the summit was changing the work start times for employees working in the tech parks along ORR. Instead of everyone starting their day around the same time, companies have been encouraged to stagger their employee shifts, with some beginning as early as 7.30 am. This approach will prevent all commuters from hitting the road at once. There was also a proposal to introduce ‘Work from Home Wednesdays,’ which would reduce the number of vehicles on the road mid-week and provide some relief to the stretched infrastructure.

Infrastructure upgrade

At the same time, authorities emphasised the need to speed up ongoing road work along the ORR. Delays in construction have only made traffic worse, so finishing these projects quickly is seen as essential, the authorities said.

Plans included setting up designated bus bays at key crossroads for easier commutes, while the BMTC (Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation) is also gearing up to launch air-conditioned buses tailored for tech workers. Additionally, companies were also being urged to contract shuttle services and facilitate better connections between nearby tech parks, the report said.

To better understand the traffic situation, new surveillance cameras will soon be installed to track vehicle movement. This real-time data will help the authorities identify patterns and design better solutions.

Shared shuttle services

Additionally, there are efforts to promote carpooling and shared shuttle services. Officials are also focusing on improved traffic control, with more traffic marshals, bike patrols, and staff volunteers being considered to help manage peak-hour flow. A quick response system is being suggested to deal with any breakdowns on the road to prevent long delays.

Illegal parking and heavy vehicles

Another major concern is illegal parking, especially near junctions and inside tech campuses. Authorities are planning strict actions, including immediate towing of such vehicles. There’s also a request from the IT sector to ban heavy trucks from using the ORR during peak hours and to be informed in advance about work-from-home days, especially on Wednesdays and Saturdays, so they can plan accordingly.