Bengaluru's ORR traffic congestion: Motorists stuck for hours, police close tech park gates for staggered exits

Traffic police closed the main and back gates of Embassy Tech Village to stagger exits

Bengaluru's tech corridor Outer Ring Road (ORR) faced heavy traffic congestion on Tuesday evening, leaving motorists stranded for hours due to rain and waterlogging.

Bengaluru traffic police closed tech park gates and implemented staggered exits to ease traffic flow. In an advisory issued to employees, tech parks stated: “This is to inform you that there is heavy traffic congestion on Outer Ring Road due to rain and waterlogging around Ecospace. The traffic police have decided to close all tech park gates, allowing staggered exits to help clear the traffic.”

Sources said that some motorists were frustrated, arguing that vehicles were piling up inside the tech parks. Bengaluru Bharath (@bnbharath), posted on X (formerly Twitter): “Huge traffic jam on ORR #Bengaluru. Police closed the main and back gates of Embassy Tech Village (ETV) to help manage traffic. Vehicles piled up inside, and after waiting for an hour, motorists started protesting on the road. Crazy scenes."

Also, read: Bengaluru rains: Schools to remain closed, WFH advisory issued for IT, private firms on Oct 23 due to orange alert

Ananth Kumar (@anantkkumar) posted on X: “Oh, that's why we were locked inside for three hours. My colleagues went back to the office cafeteria to grab biscuits and chips to survive! ”

Bengaluru traffic police had advised commuters to avoid the ORR stretch between Ibbalur and Marathahalli, suggesting alternative routes as service roads were completely flooded. MN Anucheth, Joint commissioner of police (Bengaluru City traffic) said: "Until the water recedes from service and auxiliary roads, ORR won't be able to handle normal traffic volumes. Our staff is on-site to ensure traffic movement. ORR congestion has stretched to about 1.2 km but is now moving. Earlier, it spanned 6.3 km."

One user, Sri, wrote on X: “Not only ORR, but every tech corridor suffered today. It's a nightmare. My husband started from ITPL around 5:45pm, and it took him an hour just to reach SAP Labs' Graphite Junction. He finally reached home at 8:30pm.”

Another commuter, Madhu KR (@madhukr), wrote on X: "Stuck in ORR traffic for the last 1.5 hours. I've only moved 500 meters from my office gate in Cessna Business Park towards ORR. Yet to reach ORR. #BengaluruRains."

Another netizen, Lord_Shanka (@Lord_Shankar1), posted on X: "Just reached home after a 3-hour commute. Had to divert through Indiranagar and head towards BTM Layout. Spent two hours crossing Brookfield. My friend has been stuck in traffic for over five hours!

Meanwhile, State Department of IT-BT and Electronics, issued an advisory urging IT, BT, and private sector employees to work from home on October 23, following a yellow alert due to the inclement weather.

Another commuter, Theasherr (@Ashray20313787), posted on X: "The beauty of Bangalore: Stuck in traffic since 4:30pm with 2 km left out of 8.5 km. It’s taken me 3.5 hours to cover just 6 km. The entire ORR is jammed! Hopefully, I’ll reach home by tonight."