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Hindustan Times
5 hours ago
- Business
- Hindustan Times
Bengaluru techies increase office presence amid AI fears, worsening traffic: Report
Concerns over potential job losses due to artificial intelligence are reshaping commuting patterns for Bengaluru's tech workforce. The Outer Ring Road (ORR) — already notorious for heavy traffic — now experiences its peak congestion on Wednesdays, marking a dramatic escalation in midweek gridlock. Traffic congestion on the Outer Ring Road in Bengaluru has surged, especially on Wednesdays, as IT professionals increase office attendance to bolster job security.(X/BengaluruPost) Recent data from the Bengaluru Traffic Police (BTP) revealed that entries into 26 major tech parks along the ORR shot up by as much as 45 per cent this June compared to last year, with a striking spike on Wednesdays: more than 1,20,000 vehicles were recorded on a single day, up from around 82,000 the previous June. Authorities attributed this surge to IT professionals' increasing efforts to be physically present at the office, believing higher visibility might shield them from layoffs amid AI-induced restructuring, according to a report from The Times of India. A software developer based in Doddanekundi said he has boosted his office attendance to at least four days a week. According to him, showing up in person could make a crucial difference to job security in these uncertain times. READ | 'Why do you always lie?': Bengaluru residents slam DK Shivakumar's garbage cleanup claims This surge in in-person attendance is worsening traffic snarls, especially in tech-heavy corridors such as ORR, Sarjapur Road and the routes to Electronics City. In response, traffic officials, including the recently appointed Joint Commissioner (Traffic) Karthik Reddy, are urging tech companies to consider allowing employees to work from home on Wednesdays or to stagger work hours, perhaps by starting as early as 7:30 am. But for many, these are only temporary solutions that fail to address deeper systemic issues. Commuters argued that inadequate sidewalks and safe crossings force those living within walking distance to rely on vehicles. READ | Prajwal Revanna breaks down in Bengaluru court after rape conviction: Report Infrastructure works — ranging from Metro construction to pipeline installations and road expansions — compound the problem, often taking place simultaneously and without proper coordination among the city's agencies, the report stated. The resulting confusion is a key factor behind the morning bottlenecks, said Marathahalli project lead Vikram Naik.
Time of India
11 hours ago
- Business
- Time of India
‘To be seen in office is to survive': Layoff-weary Bengaluru techies ditch WFH, brave traffic
Representative Image BENGALURU: As fears of AI-driven layoffs grip the tech industry, a new pattern has emerged on the city's already clogged Outer Ring Road (ORR): Wednesday is now the worst day to commute. In what officials call a clear shift in behaviour, the Bengaluru Traffic Police (BTP) say vehicle entries into 26 tech parks on ORR spiked by 20-45% this June compared to the same period last year. And Wednesday stands out — with 1.2 lakh vehicles logged, up from 82,168 in June 2024. The rising midweek rush, say police, appears to stem from a growing belief among tech workers that being visible in office improves job security amid a wave of AI-triggered downsizing. You Can Also Check: Bengaluru AQI | Weather in Bengaluru | Bank Holidays in Bengaluru | Public Holidays in Bengaluru 'I can't afford to be invisible,' said Rahul Shetty (name changed), a senior developer who now shows up at his Doddanekundi office at least four days a week. 'These days, optics matter. Being seen at your desk might ensure job security.' The trend is fuelling severe congestion along tech corridors like ORR (Silk Board to KR Pura), Sarjapur Road, and roads leading to Electronics City. Sensing a growing crisis, newly-appointed joint commissioner (traffic) Karthik Reddy has suggested a midweek work-from-home policy for tech companies to curb the surge. 'Peak traffic is observed between 9am and 10am on all weekdays, but Wednesday stands out because of increased office attendance by IT employees. We've recommended that tech firms either allow work-from-home every Wednesday or shift office timings to start by 7.30am and end earlier in the day,' Reddy told TOI . But the traffic chaos has reignited frustration about the city's inadequate infrastructure — something commuters say needs urgent fixing, beyond temporary work-from-home measures. 'Work-from-home for a single day is only a temporary band-aid,' said Suma Santosh, a data analyst who works in Bellandur. 'The deeper problem lies in poor pedestrian infrastructure. I live barely 2.5km from my office, but I'm forced to take my two-wheeler because walking is unsafe and inconvenient. If proper footpaths and crossings existed, at least 25% of two-wheeler traffic could be cut down.' Others point to the lack of coordination among civic agencies. 'From Metro construction to BWSSB's pipeline works to road widening, everything is happening at the same time,' said Vikram Naik, a project lead in Marathahalli. 'There's no synchronisation between agencies. This chaos is what's fuelling peak-hour gridlocks.' A BBMP official who was part of the recent coordination meeting acknowledged that concurrent infrastructure works have worsened the situation. 'We're working with BMRCL and BWSSB to ensure better coordination in project planning. We're also exploring the feasibility of creating parallel service roads or alternative routes to divert traffic.' Some companies are willing to explore flexible options, but stress the need for careful rollout. 'Work-from-home arrangement on Wednesdays is doable but optional,' said Sridhar M, an HR executive at a major tech firm. 'Some roles demand physical presence. We're open to encouraging early shift starts, and promoting carpooling and BMTC usage among our employees.' As bottlenecks intensify across Bellandur, Marathahalli, Kadubeesanahalli and Devarabisanahalli, the coming weeks could prove crucial in determining whether better coordination and corporate cooperation can untangle the city's tech traffic mess.
Time of India
15 hours ago
- Business
- Time of India
Layoff jitters in Bengaluru: As techies flock to office, traffic spirals on Outer Ring Road
Bengaluru: The tech capital's infamous traffic has found a new villain: fear of layoffs. As job insecurity grips the tech sector, especially in the wake of AI-led downsizing, a curious trend has emerged: travel time on all working days of the week has increased on the Outer Ring Road (ORR), with Wednesday turning out to be the worst day to be on the road! Bengaluru Traffic Police (BTP), who analyse the vehicle-parking data from 26 tech parks on ORR, said there was a 20-45% rise in vehicular flow at tech parks in June 2024 compared to June 2024. The surge in traffic on ORR (from Silk Board Junction to KR Pura), Sarjapur Road, and the roads leading to Electronics City has been more glaring in the past three weeks as layoffs have become near-daily headlines. The talk in HR circles is that more employees are choosing to be seen in office rather than risk being labelled dispensable while working remotely. You Can Also Check: Bengaluru AQI | Weather in Bengaluru | Bank Holidays in Bengaluru | Public Holidays in Bengaluru "I can't afford to be invisible," said Rahul Shetty (name changed), a senior developer who now makes it a point to show up at his office in a tech park near Doddanekundi, on ORR, at least four times a week. "These days, optics matter. Being seen at your desk might ensure job security," he added. This line of thinking, despite lacking definitive data to substantiate it, is resulting in a bumper-to-bumper nightmare on ORR. So much so that the new traffic police chief, joint commissioner (traffic) Karthik Reddy, proposed a work-from-home arrangement for tech employees every Wednesday, during a recent high-level coordination meeting involving officials from BBMP, BMTC, and representatives of the Greater Bengaluru IT and Companies Association. "Peak traffic is observed between 9am and 10am on all weekdays, but Wednesday stands out because of an increase in office attendance by IT employees. We've recommended that tech firms either allow work-from-home every Wednesday or shift office timings to start by 7.30am and end earlier in the day," Reddy told TOI. The vehicle-parking data collected by BTP paints a stark picture. In June 2024, an average of 82,168 vehicles were recorded on Wednesdays. This June, the number jumped to a staggering 1.2 lakh — a 45% increase. The spike, officials believe, isn't just about the corporate mandate to return to office but also speaks to employee anxiety. Motorists seek better infra, not just WFH Traffic police's suggestion to corporate head honchos to put in place a work-from-home arrangement for tech employees every Wednesday has turned the spotlight on Bengaluru's broken civic infrastructure, which techies and other commuters insist must be fixed on priority. Suma Santosh, a data analyst working with a multinational company in Bellandur, said: "Work-from-home for a single day is only a temporary band-aid. The deeper problem lies in poor pedestrian infrastructure. I live barely 2.5km from my office, but I'm forced to take my two-wheeler because walking is unsafe and inconvenient. If proper footpaths and crossings existed, at least 25% of two-wheeler traffic could be cut down. " Others pointed to the uncoordinated construction activities choking the tech corridor. "From Metro construction to BWSSB's pipeline works to road widening, everything is happening at the same time," said Vikram Naik, project lead in a company located in Marathahalli. "There's no synchronisation between agencies. This chaos is what's fuelling peak-hour gridlocks." A BBMP official, who attended the recent coordination meeting, admitted that simultaneous infrastructure works have exacerbated congestion. "We're working with BMRCL and BWSSB to ensure better coordination in project planning. We're also exploring the feasibility of creating parallel service roads or alternative routes to divert traffic." While tech firms have shown preliminary support for staggered timings and hybrid policies, sources say the implementation needs logistical planning. Sridhar M, an HR executive with a tech major, said: "Work-from-home arrangement on Wednesdays is doable but optional. Some roles demand physical presence. We're open to encouraging early shift starts, and promoting carpooling and BMTC usage among our employees. " With tech zones such as Bellandur, Marathahalli, Kadubeesanahalli, and Devarabisanahalli continuing to bear the brunt of urban congestion, the coming weeks will test how well coordination, policy tweaks, and corporate cooperation can collectively decongest the city's IT backbone.
Indian Express
a day ago
- Indian Express
New auto fare rates in Bengaluru from tomorrow, govt sets October 31 deadline to update meters
The Regional Transport Authority (RTA) Thursday issued a directive mandating all autorickshaws operating in Bengaluru to update their fare meters with the newly revised rates by October 31. The new rates will be applicable from August 1. According to the new rates, the minimum fare for the first two kilometres has been increased from Rs 30 to Rs 36. For every subsequent kilometre, passengers will now have to pay Rs 18, up from the earlier Rs 15. The night fare – applicable between 10 pm and 5 am – will be charged at 1.5 times the regular rate. Waiting charges, too, have been revised, with the first five minutes remaining free. Beyond that, a fee of Rs 10 will be charged for every 15 minutes of waiting. In terms of baggage, up to 20 kg is allowed free of cost. An additional Rs 10 will be charged for every 20 kg or part thereof, with the maximum baggage limit capped at 50 kg. Additionally, Karthik Reddy, Joint Commissioner, Bengaluru (Traffic), also issued a directive on Wednesday, directing all traffic police officials to book cases against errant auto drivers who charge exorbitant fares in violation of the government-fixed rates. The RTA order would also mean that aggregator apps like Rapido, Namma Yatri, Uber, and Ola are also set to embrace the new fare structure. As per the Karnataka High Court's October 2022 order, app-based auto aggregators are allowed to charge only 10 per cent above the government-notified fare, plus 5 per cent goods and services tax. The RTA has instructed that auto rickshaw meters must be recalibrated to reflect the revised fares and certified by the Legal Metrology Department within the given timeline. To streamline the process, all Legal Metrology inspectors working within the city –excluding those from the Investigation Wing – have been directed to focus solely on verifying and stamping auto rickshaws in Bengaluru city limits, irrespective of their usual jurisdiction. 'This special arrangement will remain in effect until the October-end deadline. Post October 31, the Legal Metrology Department will revert to its regular jurisdiction-based operations, as per existing norms,' the notification said. This is the first fare revision since November 2021, when the base fare was increased from Rs 25 to Rs 30 and the per-kilometre charge from Rs 13 to Rs 15. Before that, fares were last changed in 2013. The latest revision follows repeated appeals from auto unions, which have cited rising fuel prices, higher maintenance costs, and inflation as reasons why the earlier fares were no longer sustainable. However, many drivers have expressed disappointment with the RTA's decision, saying their demand for a Rs 40 base fare and Rs 20 per kilometre was not met. Michelle Khiangte, a regular auto user, told The Indian Express, 'With the current pricing mechanisms coupled with tipping, the auto fares are… very high and unjustified. Now with the new revision, it will pinch my pocket even more. For a Rs 100 journey, I am paying Rs 150. With the new rates I would be shelling out around Rs 170-Rs 180. The bulk of my expenditure is channelled towards commuting, and this has eventually made transport in Bengaluru very costly.' Satya Arikutharam, mobility expert and a regular auto user, said, 'The fare revision for autos was long overdue. That said, hardly any autos were operating the fare meter. Commuters must be vigilant about fares from tomorrow, if not aggregators are likely to increase them even further. The best way to ensure this is for commuters to insist that the drivers operate the fare meter for their trips. The Transport Department must put more monitoring efforts than now to ensure autos operate the fare meter, which is a permit condition, on all their trips. Aggregators must also follow the fare notification as the High Court has upheld the state's right to notify and enforce fares.'
News18
6 days ago
- Business
- News18
'Work From Home On Wednesdays': Bengaluru Traffic Police's Pitch To IT Firms To Beat Gridlocks
Last Updated: Bengaluru's joint commissioner of traffic, Karthik Reddy, has proposed that tech companies consider WFH on Wednesdays, which data shows is the worst day of the week for traffic As Bengaluru continues to battle the ignominy of being labelled the 'most congested city in the world", the IT capital's traffic police are now turning to the tech industry for solutions—quite literally. In a direct outreach to the city's IT giants, Bengaluru's joint commissioner of traffic, Karthik Reddy, has proposed that tech companies consider implementing 'work from home" on Wednesdays, which data shows is the worst day of the week for traffic snarls. 'This Monday we had a meeting with ORRCA (Outer Ring Road Companies Association), and we made three suggestions," Reddy told News18. 'First was staggering office timings. All companies usually start between 9 and 10 am—that's a major pressure point. We requested them to stagger start times between 7.30 am and 9.30 am to help spread out traffic." The second request was to promote public transport. 'BMTC has assured us that they will provide additional buses. We asked companies to encourage employees to use public transport," he said. The AI playbook Reddy has taken charge at a time when Bengaluru has 1 lakh to 1.1 lakh new vehicles being registered every month—a number he calls staggering. 'That's just in Bengaluru RTOs, not counting vehicles from neighbouring districts. With that kind of growth, congestion has naturally risen over the years," he said. The department is now turning to technology—including AI-powered signals and surveillance—to manage traffic in the city. 'We currently have 501 signals, of which 169 are AI-based. By year-end, we plan to add another 110 AI-enabled signals," he said. 'These systems analyse traffic density on all lanes at a junction and dynamically adjust signal timings. Over time, they learn and improve—and help us manage congestion better." Boots on the ground—and cameras in the air While AI helps, Reddy maintains that basic policing remains critical. 'There's no substitute for our people on the ground. From me to the last constable, all of us have to be visible during peak hours," he said. Bengaluru also has a growing network of ANPR and ITMS cameras, in addition to Safe City surveillance. 'Violations caught on these are immediately challaned. People think they can get away—but the system tracks them. They might delay payment, but they'll have to pay eventually," Reddy said. 'Civic sense is key' Yet, despite tech and boots on the ground, Reddy says real change can only happen if citizens step up. 'We can't have police on every corner. Basic civic sense is critical. These rules are for our safety. A single violation can endanger others," he said, adding that his department is planning a crackdown on app-based delivery riders who routinely flout traffic rules. 'We're calling for a meeting with aggregators like Zepto and Blinkit next week. We want them to sensitise their delivery staff—no riding on footpaths, no wrong-way driving, no skipping helmets. Rules apply to them too. If violations continue, we'll have a crackdown." Undoing the tag So, can Bengaluru ever shake off the 'most congested" tag? 'We are trying our best," Reddy said firmly. 'We are working on all fronts—from AI to better enforcement, from collaborating with companies to pushing for behavioural change. We are determined to reduce congestion in this city." First Published: Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
