'Invisible development': Stuck in gridlock, Bengaluru motorists use muddy railway path as shortcut. Watch

The route in question is not recognised as a public road.

A traffic bottleneck on the Panathur–Balagere corridor in Bengaluru has prompted several two-wheeler riders to veer off the main route and use unpaved tracks running alongside the railway line, risking their safety to reach their destinations faster.

A video circulating on social media showed multiple bikers navigating through slush and uneven terrain as they attempted to bypass a long queue of vehicles on the primary road. Some riders were seen crossing muddy patches and riding through makeshift channels created by water run-off, while others followed narrow paths used by villagers.

The footage sparked debate among residents, with opinions divided over whether commuters had lost patience and civic sense or whether persistent infrastructure delays had left them with little choice.

According to the Times of India, the Panathur S-Cross stretch has been undergoing concretisation work for several weeks. The project, originally scheduled for completion by October, was postponed after overlapping work by different civic agencies disrupted the schedule. With a section of the route closed and other connecting roads filled with potholes, many motorists resorted to the risky shortcut that cuts through railway property.

The route in question is not recognised as a public road. It runs close to active tracks and remains uneven, raising serious safety concerns. Despite the hazards, two-wheelers have been seen using the stretch daily to reach Bellandur’s Outer Ring Road, TOI reported.

Social media users reacted sharply to the incident. A user commented, “Okay. This isn't an off-roading adventure over the weekend you do with your buddies. THIS IS ACTUALLY HOW BANGALORE COMMUTE TO OFFICE !!! I HAVE DONE THAT TOO WHEN I WAS IN BANGALORE!! Think this through: each of these guys are earning at least six figures, and this is what they have to do to earn that SIX FIGURES. Would you do that?”

Another user described the situation as a reflection of the everyday struggle faced by the city’s professionals. “This is the reality for IT employees in Bengaluru — struggling to reach the office on narrow, overcrowded paths like Croma Adventure Trail and Panathur. Isn’t it time the government and local authorities took notice? We pay taxes, but basic infrastructure like roads and commuting options are a struggle. The real challenge in Bengaluru isn’t just in the office, it’s getting there!” he wrote.

Another resident remarked, “No wonder westerners call us 'third world.' I face this traffic every day , it’s exhausting. I’ve lived in Bengaluru for over 30 years; twenty years ago, it was such a beautiful city. Now it’s just chaos.”

In response to the situation, Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) Chief Commissioner Maheshwar Rao urged the public to remain patient while roadworks continued. “The main problem is we can’t take up roadwork and shut any road for at least a day. It is the same in Panathur. Currently, white-topping work is happening, and it should be given a good amount of time for curing, so that the road is there for a good number of years. We need people to cooperate with us for a few more days so that the work is done properly,” Rao told TOI.

Officials said that once the concrete curing process was completed, the road would remain durable for an extended period, provided it was not opened prematurely.