Whitefield signal-free corridor faces ongoing gridlock six years on

Commuters travelling towards Whitefield and ITPL continue to face heavy gridlock along the proposed 17.5-kilometre signal-free corridor from Vellara Junction to Hope Farm Junction, as five traffic signals, unfinished works, and cramped junctions persist six years after work began. The Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) had taken up the Rs 109-crore project to ease traffic movement along the route, but multiple bottlenecks remain unresolved.

Traffic delays are frequent across several key locations along the corridor. Motorists halted at Manipal Hospital Junction report waiting for more than five minutes, while ongoing work at Wind Tunnel Road Junction creates additional congestion. Route disruptions and heavy vehicular traffic have also been recorded at Vibhuthipura Main Road, Yamalur Road Junction, and Marathahalli Bridge.

A major constraint affects the stretch between the Marathahalli Flyover and Kundalahalli Junction, where restricted road space slows vehicles moving towards ITPL. Insufficient land acquisition by the GBA near Sankara Eye Hospital and Karunashraya Ashrama has further constrained traffic flow.

Local residents point to Kundalahalli Junction as a major daily hurdle due to limited turning space. JC Reddy, a resident of Meenakshi Layout, stated that acquiring vacant land on the left side of the Kundalahalli Underpass towards Varthur, near the Shriram Samruddhi apartment complex, would enable free left turns and relieve congestion on ITPL Road.

A local traffic police constable noted that gridlock has become routine at Kundalahalli Junction because vehicles lack room to turn left, adding that Satya Sai Baba Road and Munnekollal regularly experience traffic jams.

Addressing the bottlenecks, the Chief Engineer of the Bengaluru East City Corporation (BECC) said there is no land available on the right side of the road towards Varthur from the underpass, explaining that vehicles pile up while waiting for the right-turn signal near Shriram Samruddhi. However, he acknowledged the presence of vacant land on the left side and stated he would look into the matter. Bengaluru East DCP (Traffic) added that widening the road has been discussed to alleviate the congestion.