CM D.K. Shivakumar Takes Namma Metro to Kanakapura Road to Avoid Zero-Traffic Delays

On Sunday, June 7, 2026, Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar travelled via the Namma Metro from Vidhana Soudha to the Silk Institute station on Kanakapura Road, choosing to bypass the usual zero-traffic road arrangements to prevent public traffic disruption.

The decision came amid growing public frustration over VIP-induced traffic delays in Bengaluru. According to a statement from the Chief Minister's Office, Shivakumar decided against using zero-traffic protocols all the way from his Sadashivanagar residence to Kanakapura Road because he recognised it would have severely blocked traffic movement for the public.

Shivakumar was travelling to Kanakapura, his home constituency, for the first time since becoming the Chief Minister of Karnataka. The trip was intended to meet his constituents and express his gratitude to the people there.

During his metro journey, the Chief Minister interacted with commuters at the station and inside the train carriage, exchanging pleasantries. Upon arriving at the Silk Institute station, which is the last stop on Kanakapura Main Road, he got down and continued his journey to Kanakapura by road.

The move follows recent public anger regarding VIP traffic privileges. Last week, a zero-traffic arrangement made for Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot’s convoy at Wind Tunnel Junction, where underpass construction is ongoing, led to a public protest. A frustrated citizen staged a protest by sitting down at the junction, claiming his pregnant wife was on her way to the hospital and was blocked by the convoy.

The incident triggered widespread outrage on social media, with many pointing to Bengaluru’s crumbling infrastructure, which has already made commuting difficult. Citizens argued that VIP movements and the associated traffic restrictions were causing further unnecessary inconvenience.

In response to the public anger, the new Home Minister, Priyank Kharge, discussed the issue during his first meeting with IPS officers on Friday, June 5, 2026. He stated that they were trying to work out alternate solutions, such as synchronised signals, to avoid blocking other traffic.