Gauri-Ganesha Festival: Bengaluru sees massive rush

Team Udayavani, Sep 7, 2024, 10:20 AM IST

With the Gauri-Ganesha festival and several holidays lined up, thousands of Bengaluru residents began their journey to their hometowns on Friday evening, causing massive crowds and traffic congestion across the city. The Kempegowda Bus Station (Majestic) was packed with people of all ages, from children to the elderly, heading out of the city.

As a result, a large number of passengers boarded KSRTC, Rajahamsa, Volvo, and other buses, leading to severe congestion around the Majestic area. The Bengaluru traffic police struggled to manage the situation, as vehicles were seen lined up from Goods Shed Road to Anand Rao Circle. Traffic jams extended across all roads surrounding the Majestic area throughout Friday evening.

Traffic Woes for Commuters

Commuters stuck in traffic expressed frustration as they moved slowly towards their destinations. At the same time, enthusiastic travelers with bags in hand were seen running around in search of buses. Passengers crowded buses, with many standing throughout their journeys, while others struggled to find seats.

Local businesses around Majestic saw booming sales, and auto drivers reportedly charged double the fare, taking advantage of the festival rush. Passengers, eager to get home, didn’t question the high fares.

Rush at Railway Stations Too

The Krantiveera Sangolli Rayanna Railway Station at Majestic also witnessed a huge crowd of travelers. The RPF and railway police were on high alert to ensure no untoward incidents occurred. Additional police forces were also deployed at the Majestic bus station to manage the rush, which continued throughout the night.

Several buses heading to distant locations were delayed due to the heavy traffic, unable to leave the city on time.

Traffic Jams Across Major Roads

The heavy outflow of private vehicles from Bengaluru contributed to massive traffic jams on Tumkur Road, Mysuru Road, Ballari Road, and Hosur Road. Thousands of vehicles were stuck in traffic for hours, inching forward slowly. Despite efforts by traffic police to ease congestion, the sheer volume of vehicles made it impossible to manage effectively.

Satellite, Shantinagar Stations Overwhelmed

Not only Karnataka residents but also those from other states living in Bengaluru headed back home for the festival, causing heavy crowds at the Shantinagar, Satellite, and Yeshwantpur bus stations. Typically quiet at night, these stations were bustling with activity until late into Friday night, as buses continued to transport passengers to their destinations into the early hours of Saturday.

Private buses lined up along Gandhi Nagar, Peenya, Malleswaram, and Tumkur Road, with the constant sound of honking adding to the chaos.

Toll Booth Delays

Vehicles lined up at the Nelamangala toll booth, causing significant delays. Areas like T. Dasarahalli, Jalahalli Cross, Peenya, and Goraguntepalya Junction saw long queues of vehicles, with similar scenes on Mysuru Road.

Metro Shutdown Causes Inconvenience

Adding to the woes of commuters, Metro services between Peenya Industrial Metro Station and Nagasandra were suspended on Friday due to an electric signal inspection. Thousands of passengers, relying on the Metro, faced significant delays and challenges in finding alternate modes of transportation.