24-07-2025
EaseMyTrip's founder launches ‘highly promising' plan to cut Bengaluru traffic by 30% in a year; shares 4 initiatives
Just days after pledging Rs 1 crore to tackle Bengaluru's relentless traffic woes, EaseMyTrip co-founder Prashant Pitti has rolled out what he believes is a game-changing plan to ease the city's notorious congestion.
Pitti shared a promising update on X, revealing that he's been in talks with senior officials from the Bengaluru Traffic Police (BTP), BBMP, and the City Police, aiming to put together a practical roadmap. 'MAJOR UPDATE on Bangalore Traffic Project! I am confident of improving Bangalore traffic by 25-30% within a year's time,' he posted.
The entrepreneur isn't going at it alone. He's brought together a wide-ranging team that includes Google's tech experts, scientists from IISc, traffic engineers, road safety professionals, and even startups working on mobility solutions. The goal is to work collaboratively on smart, data-driven fixes.
According to Pitti, both BTP and IISc already have access to simulation tools that can predict traffic patterns and suggest alternative routes. To enhance these models, he's requested real-time movement data from platforms like Google, Uber, Ola, and Rapido.
One of the first steps he plans to take is upgrading the government's pothole complaint app into a more robust platform. It will allow citizens to report a broader range of issues –– think illegal parking, waterlogging, malfunctioning traffic lights, and wrong-side driving. Importantly, the app will publicly display each complaint and its status with timestamps, ensuring accountability.
Another key idea is the introduction of a 'Hyperlocal Rain Predictor' that would help avoid delays in roadwork caused by unexpected downpours. 'Govt closes the road to do infra/maintenance work, but then it starts raining on that patch of road and work halts. This leads to crazy downtime and traffic congestion,' Pitti explained. With predictive rain data, authorities could time projects more efficiently and address drainage bottlenecks before they spiral into larger problems.
🚨 MAJOR UPDATE on Bangalore Traffic Project!
I am confident of improving Bangalore traffic by 25-30% within a year's time
—
1. Collaboration at Scale
In just 10 days, after meeting the commissioners of BTP, BBMP, CP, Google team, IISC professors, Scientist, Road Engineers,…
— Prashant Pitti (@ppitti) July 24, 2025
He's also piloting a 'Green Wave Signals' initiative — where traffic lights are synced to allow smoother vehicle movement across longer stretches. 'We will analyse the results to see if it makes sense to be done at city level,' he wrote.
Responding to critics who insist that Bengaluru's traffic problem is fundamentally about infrastructure, Pitti pushed back. 'Congrats on stating the obvious,' he said, adding, 'If we continue to wait for the infra to become better, then we are merely playing a catch-up game with the West. There is so much scope to optimize current infra… This is no longer about rants or blaming the system. It's about practical optimism.'
He's also launched a public WhatsApp group where citizens can report hyperlocal traffic issues, which will then be compiled and shared with civic authorities for action.
The initiative has sparked a flurry of responses online. One user praised Pitti's hands-on approach, writing, 'This is where an engineering mind… can solve any complex real world problems with efficient use of resources. Keep up the good work sir.'
Others, however, felt the effort was misdirected. 'PLEASE PLEASE! implement a metro system similar to Tokyo,' one user pleaded, arguing that long-term rapid transit solutions are the real need of the hour.
Still, many expressed cautious optimism. 'This is a highly promising initiative,' one comment read. 'I'm hopeful that agencies and stakeholders will offer their full support.'
Earlier, Pitti shared that the inspiration for the project came from a particularly maddening night when he spent more than two hours trying to travel just 11 km through Bengaluru. He was stuck for 100 minutes at a major bottleneck on Outer Ring Road, with no traffic signal or police presence in sight.
