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News18
4 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.
Time of India
19-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
BMTC steps in to solve ORR agony
Pic: Chethan Shivakumar For years, Bengaluru has been trying to find a solution to the severe traffic congestion on Outer Ring Road (ORR), along which some 10 lakh employees work across 26 tech parks. A metro line is being constructed on the road, which could at least partially be ready by late next year. But Manas Das, president of Outer Ring Road Companies Association (ORRCA), is sceptical about whether this will have the desired impact on the road, given the way tech parks and employee numbers are growing, and the trend of companies increasingly mandating work from office. A new bus initiative has raised hopes. In 2023, ORRCA started a programme called personal-to-public (P2P), encouraging people to give up their private vehicles and get on to public transport – at least twice a week. That has had some impact. This could now get bolstered with two initiative BMTC has just launched. You Can Also Check: Bengaluru AQI | Weather in Bengaluru | Bank Holidays in Bengaluru | Public Holidays in Bengaluru BMTC's Vajra Express Service and chartered buses to ease traffic congestion Most techies would find BMTC's Vajra Express service extremely affordable. A ride from Hebbal to Marathahalli costs Rs 50, and up to Silk Board is Rs 70. These air-conditioned electric buses with limited stops, Das says, are plying empty most of the time. So ORRCA is creating a campaign around it to build awareness. BMTC has also offered chartered bus options to the tech parks and companies in the parks. 'These buses will be exclusively for people working in these tech parks. At an agreed rate, the tech parks and companies can subscribe to the services of BMTC instead of running their own private vehicles. Replacing 1,000 cabs with 50 buses would significantly reduce traffic congestion on the road,' Das says. With the supply-side logistics addressed, the focus has shifted to generating demand. ORRCA has initiated discussions with tech parks to use the chartered bus option. Ensuring sufficient ridership is essential, because it's also a matter of BMTC's financial viability. Multiple tech parks, Das says, can share a single vehicle to maximise utilisation. Solving for last mile One thing that discourages techies from opting for regular buses, including the Vajra Express, is the considerable walking distance from entrance gates to office buildings in these sprawling campuses. Public transport becomes more acceptable when people need to walk no more than 500 metres to a kilometre, to catch a bus. 'BMTC has shown some willingness to take the buses inside the campuses,' Das says. Vishnu Prasad, founder & member of Save Bellandur Forum, is angry that tech parks aren't investing enough in public infrastructure that could benefit everyone. 'Why can't they run loop shuttles? Why can't Ecospace, Intel, Ecoworld and Wipro interconnect their buildings with roads and accessible walkways? Why can't they promote access to their campus from bus stops through dedicated (overhead) pathways?,' he asks. Kamesh Rastogi, an IT professional who works with Oracle on ORR, agrees. He believes MNCs must contribute to ORR by investing in service roads and private buses connecting major tech parks to city hubs. Poor civic body coordination A huge complaint, like in much of the city, is also about civic bodies like BMRCL, BBMP, BMTC, KPTCL and Bescom not working in a coordinated manner. The worst of this is when BBMP restores a road, after which one of the others promptly digs it up again. There's an ORR coordination group that includes ORRCA and all the civic bodies that has had some impact. But not as much as tech parks and companies would like. Das notes that ORR unfortunately has no parallel road to share the traffic burden. What it does have are arterial roads that can serve that purpose to some extent. But that project to widen and improve those roads has been on-going for years. Das says some 14-15 of them have got some attention, and a few more are making progress. Police promise on DB Halli Probably the biggest congestion point on ORR is the DB Halli junction, close to the entry points to the Ecoworld and Ecospace parks. Karthik Reddy, joint commissioner of police (traffic), says he will call a meeting with ORRCA and other key stakeholders to find immediate and long-term solutions to address the issue. VOICE BOX The primary bottleneck on ORR are the entry points to Ecoworld and Ecospace. These choke points are also causing a spillover effect, leading to congestion on surrounding roads. We will work towards finding both immediate and long-term solutions to address this issue. Karthik Reddy I will soon call a meeting with ORRCA and other key stakeholders to discuss actionable steps for decongesting these critical stretches. Karthik Reddy, JOINT COMMISSIONER OF POLICE (TRAFFIC), BENGALURU Metro's Blue Line that connects Silk Board to K R Puram will be operational by mid-2026. Maheshwar Rao It will help improve connectivity and reduce travel time. Maheshwar Rao M, CHIEF COMMISSIONER, BBMP, AND FORMER MD, BMRCL The BBMP is currently undertaking widening work on eight of the 22 arterial roads identified by ORRCA to take some of the load off ORR. We hope they will also make it really motorable. Manas Das The govt department's idea of a motorable road is far different from ours. For them, a mud laid road could be motorable. Manas Das, PRESIDENT, OUTER RING ROAD COMPANIES ASSOCIATION (ORRCA) Operating chartered bus services is a great initiative. Mukund Kumar Those working along ORR would welcome this transportation option. Mukund Kumar, MEMBER, SAVE SARJAPURA Companies' mandatory office attendance policies are compelling employees to commute daily. The infrastructure lacks the capacity to handle this massive number of commuters. ORR is also severely damaged with numerous potholes. It is like driving through hell. With the ongoing never-ending metro construction and rain, everything just spirals out of control. Pollution and dust add to our woes. Manjjari Behal Over a decade, the traffic situation in and around Ecospace has gone from bad to worse. I remember how the traffic jam used to extend to Pritex Park inside Ecospace post 6pm 12 years ago. We haven't learnt our lessons and now the cutoff time to escape traffic is 4pm. Manjjari Behal, WORKS WITH AN MNC IN ECOSPACE We experience significant delays at the congested areas near Ecoworld and Ecospace. Gaurav Pandey The success of BMTC charter operations depends heavily on resolving the final stretch connectivity issues for passengers. Gaurav Pandey, WORKS WITH AMADEUS LABS IN PRESTIGE TECH PARK I have been working on ORR since 2007 and have seen the degradation in infrastructure over the years. Road quality has worsened, poor drainage systems lead to water accumulation, traffic is really congested. Kamesh Rastogi The commute of about 8 km from HSR Layout to the Oracle Technology Hub requires 45-50 mins in the afternoon. Major intersections such as Ecoworld, Ecospace and the multiplex regularly face traffic bottlenecks, frequently reaching up to Ibbaluru. Kamesh Rastogi, IT PROFESSIONAL, ORACLE Collective solutions would be possible only if all stakeholders – citizens, administration, traffic police and companies – come together. Organisations should implement flexible working hours for their staff. People should consider sharing rides and choosing non-peak travel times. The authorities need to ensure swift completion of ongoing infrastructure projects. Shaila Prabhu BBMP's construction work is totally shoddy. Projects drag on indefinitely without timelines. Construction debris remains scattered on roads. Corruption is the major issue. A beautiful city is in shambles. Shaila Prabhu, RETIRED BANKER, MAKES REGULAR TRIPS TO ORR TO VISIT RELATIVES The traffic congestion on ORR stems from employees accessing the area exclusively through the Ecoworld entrance. A coordinated effort is essential to create multiple access points through Ecospace, Intel and Wipro, which would help distribute the traffic flow. Vishnu Prasad Swift completion of the Blue Line metro project would significantly ease the congestion. Vishnu Prasad, FOUNDER AND MEMBER, SAVE BELLANDUR FORUM
Hindustan Times
19-05-2025
- Business
- Hindustan Times
Bengaluru heavy rainfall: Employees demand work-from-home as civic conditions make commute a nightmare
As Bengaluru continues to reel under the impact of relentless rains and poor civic preparedness, a growing chorus of voices from the city's vast IT workforce is calling for mandatory work-from-home (WFH) policies during extreme weather days. Also Read - 'Not a new problem for Bengaluru': DK Shivakumar vows long-term fixes as rains cripple city Navigating through flooded streets, traffic gridlocks, and disrupted public transport has turned the daily office commute into a nightmare, especially for those working in tech corridors like Outer Ring Road and Manyata Tech Park, which were among the worst affected on Monday. Parts of Manyata Tech Park were submerged under over two feet of water, halting vehicle movement and leaving several employees stranded. Taking to social media, frustrated tech workers have urged industry bodies and employers to consider declaring remote work on days when the city is battered by heavy downpours. 'Bengaluru IT folks end up working more than 70 hours a week during monsoon—not because of office hours, but because of the sheer effort it takes to get there,' one user posted, tagging the Outer Ring Road Companies Association (ORRCA). 'Why can't there be a city-wide work-from-home mandate on rainy days?' Another user questioned the rationale of forcing employees into offices amidst flooded roads: 'It's water everywhere. And yet, IT companies are pushing for full-time office. How does this make sense when people are risking their lives commuting through flooded stretches just to sit at a desk they could easily operate from home?' Several users shared similar sentiments, emphasizing that a proactive WFH policy during weather emergencies would ease pressure on the city's already strained infrastructure and reduce traffic congestion, allowing emergency services to operate more freely. Also Read - 'Not a new problem for Bengaluru': DK Shivakumar vows long-term fixes as rains cripple city 'Declare WFH today. Maybe the situation improves tomorrow—only if it stops raining,' one techie suggested in a widely circulated post. One particularly sarcastic comment captured the city's current mood: 'Try going to the office—Bengaluru rains will stop you. Try working from home—Bengaluru's weather will cut your Wi-Fi. #AmazeRoads #AmazeWeather.' As the conversation grows louder online, civic and corporate leaders are now under pressure to reconsider rigid return-to-office mandates. Many employees argue that flexible working conditions, especially during monsoon months, are not just convenient but a necessity in a city whose infrastructure is routinely overwhelmed by rain.
