Holiday rush traffic congestion: Trains and buses overbooked, private operators exploit demand

NT Correspondent

Bengaluru: As the weekend and the festive holiday season unfolded, Bengaluru witnessed a mass departure of people on Friday and Saturday, with people embarking on journeys to their hometowns for the upcoming holiday season.

While private vehicles congested the roads, government buses also experienced heavy passenger traffic, causing congestion around major bus stations and highways connecting to various parts of the state from the city.

The Kaniminike toll plaza, situated on the Bengaluru-Mysuru highway, transformed into a bottleneck as thousands of vehicles formed lengthy queues.

This resulted in motorists enduring a frustrating three-hour wait to navigate through the toll booth. Similar traffic congestion plagued the Nelamangala highway and other exit points from the city, posing challenges for travellers.

Jalahalli Cross experienced a notable surge in people, particularly those en route to Shivamogga, Davanagere, Hassan, and Hubballi, eagerly anticipating buses.

Amidst this commotion, an unfortunate incident unfolded involving KSRTC staff on a bus plying between Hassan and Chikkamagalur.

A dispute arose when a passenger questioned the closure of the bus door, leading to a physical altercation. The situation escalated as the staff tore the passenger's shirt, seized his mobile phone, and forcibly expelled him from the bus.

Efforts by the BTP

In a parallel development, the Traffic Police are taking proactive measures to address traffic violations, concentrating on the educated populace, notably IT/BT employees in Mahadevapura, Whitefield, HAL, and HSR Layout areas.

Deputy Commissioner of Police, East, Kuldeep Kumar Jain, disclosed a special enforcement drive targeting these violators.

The emphasis is on informing the families and employers of the offenders to underscore the significance of adhering to traffic rules and understanding the consequences.

This initiative aims to control violations through education and awareness, fostering responsible behaviour among commuters and their communities during the holiday season.

Surging prices strain commuters

The situation worsened as trains were fully booked, leaving lucky ticket holders to contend with overcrowded compartments due to numerous general compartment passengers.

KSRTC buses faced overwhelming demand, with all seats booked, while private bus operators took advantage of the surge, doubling or even tripling their prices.

The festive rush exacerbated transportation challenges, with commuters grappling with packed trains, fully booked buses, and exorbitant fares on private services, adding another layer of complexity to holiday travel woes.