Bengaluru school congestion forces changes to classes and travel
Congestion on SH-35 and around Bengaluru schools is disrupting journeys for pupils and residents. The Hindu reports that some schools are cutting activities after lessons while police discuss additional heavy-vehicle restrictions.
In the city's east, school buses spend long periods stranded around Varthur, Gunjur and Dommasandra. Eighth-grade pupil Kashvee said she normally gets home between 4:30 and 5 p.m., or at 6 p.m. on especially difficult days. She said that leaves mainly Sundays for extracurricular activities.
Inventure Academy chief Nooraine Fazal said the school stopped holding after-school sports and cooking classes to avoid peak congestion. Parents and bus helpers describe tired children struggling with studies after long journeys. These are accounts from those involved, rather than findings from a medical study.
In central Bengaluru, limited parking combines with a mix of buses, school vans and parents' vehicles. Traffic maps reviewed by The Hindu show journey times rising around schools after 2 p.m. A roughly one-kilometre stretch from Mother Teresa Road to Shoolay Circle normally takes four to five minutes but requires at least eight after 3 p.m.
Residents also report buses occupying neighbourhood roads. Sameera Rajan said more than 30 school buses are stationed along a short stretch of Srinivagilu Road. Deeksha C. described roads near Malleshpalya, Kaggadasapura Lake and Vigyan Nagar becoming congested in the morning and after classes.
Bengaluru Traffic Police analysis links SH-35 congestion to connecting-road traffic as well as construction. B-SMILE independent director R.K. Misra points to limited infrastructure in fast-growing areas. Road density around Sarjapur and the Outer Ring Road is eight to 10 kilometres per square kilometre, against a suggested 25 to 30 in densely populated areas.
Joint Commissioner of Police for Traffic Karthik Reddy said goods-vehicle entry is restricted on the affected corridor. Gopal M. Byakod said SH-35 is an exception and police have limited authority to restrict afternoon traffic on other roads. Wider daytime restrictions remain under discussion.
KAMS general secretary D. Shashi Kumar proposes identifying separate spaces where children could meet parents, reducing vehicles around schools. He advocates planning for individual locations based on their specific congestion problems.
