A massive traffic jam on Bengaluru’s Outer Ring Road (ORR) — home to many of India’s largest tech companies — left commuters stranded for nearly six hours on Wednesday morning, sparking outrage and renewed debate about the city’s traffic crisis.
Videos circulating on social media showed long queues of vehicles — including cars, cabs, and school buses — stretching across several kilometres. The viral clip, shared by the Civic Opposition of India on X (formerly Twitter), quickly drew thousands of comments from frustrated residents and tech employees.
Public Outrage: “Can’t Sit Six Hours In Traffic Every Day”
Social media users tagged major IT firms such as Google, Infosys, Wipro, and Accenture, urging them to address the worsening traffic situation by allowing remote or hybrid work options.
One X user posted a now-viral comment:
“Companies should provide free but compulsory buses for employees — one bus means 50 fewer cars. Or simply shut offices in Bengaluru and open them in Mysuru, Hosuru, or Mangaluru.”
Another comment criticized corporate management culture, saying,
“In the US, if your commute takes over an hour, you’re told to work hybrid. But Indian bosses are busy proving loyalty instead of showing empathy.”
Some users blamed poor urban planning, arguing that Bengaluru’s infrastructure was never designed to handle such rapid growth in the IT sector.
“Bengaluru couldn’t sustain more people in 2017. It’s now 2025 — please don’t blame just the government. The city has reached its limit,” one user remarked.
Traffic Police Update
According to the Bengaluru Traffic Police (BTP), the heavy congestion was mainly due to the closure of Panathur Road, which connects key areas such as Varthur and Marathahalli — both major IT corridors.
Authorities have assured that Panathur Road will reopen next Friday, which is expected to ease the bottleneck across the Varthur–Marathahalli stretch and reduce traffic pressure on ORR.
Despite repeated appeals and infrastructure projects, Bengaluru’s ORR continues to face gridlocks, particularly during peak office hours, as thousands of tech employees commute daily to major campuses located along the stretch.
In Summary:
The latest incident has reignited long-standing concerns over Bengaluru’s traffic management and IT corridor planning, with citizens demanding stronger public transport solutions, better road infrastructure, and flexible work policies from tech companies.
