Stark differences in traffic conditions in South and East Bangalore

Even though road conditions are similar, traffic sense and BTP management make the experience feel worlds apart.

BHPian ShreyG recently shared this with other enthusiasts:

My Recent Observations of Bangalore Traffic

Over the past couple of weeks, I had to travel extensively within the city during peak evening hours (between 6pm-8pm). Fortunately, my work requires me to travel more intercity than intracity, but the last few weeks, I had work meetings in South and East Bangalore.

Firstly, I would like to point out that these seem like 2 completely different cities. Even though road conditions are similar (read potholed), traffic sense and BTP management make the experience feel worlds apart.

South Bangalore (specifically JP Nagar, Jayanagar and Basavangudi) have the BTP working hard to keep the traffic flowing during peak hours. There was minimal honking and no massive NL / AR registered buses terrorizing everyone in their path. 2-3 wheelers, were unruly as usual, but given the smooth flow, it wasn't causing choc-a-blocks anywhere.

However, the moment you cross the Iblur junction towards Whitefield, all hell breaks loose. The leftmost lane on the ORR is treated as a parking zone by the buses and 3W, whereas the dusty median below the under-construction metro line acts as parking lots for cabs and TTs. BMTCs and private buses take up 2.5 of the 3 lanes for pickup and drop, BTP is nowhere to be seen other than at traffic signals. And the less said about lawlessness on the arterial roads along the ORR, the better.

One thing that shocked me the most was that private bus players were outnumbering the BMTCs on the ORR during peak hours. Are they actually acting as intercity transport from Silk board to Hebbal? Kudos to the private bus nexus. Private players from KA do not seem happy about it.

Only consistency I saw was from the BBMP. Road conditions were mostly consistent irrespective of which part of the city I was in.

And oh yes, 2/3 wheelers were equally brazen to jump traffic lights and drive down the wrong side without any fear of the law.

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.