Bengaluru traffic police have introduced additional restrictions on heavy goods vehicles using the busy Varthur Gunjur stretch in east Bengaluru after growing complaints about severe congestion affecting schoolchildren and daily commuters.
The Varthur Gunjur corridor forms part of State Highway 35 and has become a major concern for residents in the area. The latest restrictions cover three separate periods during the day, including the main school travel hours and evening peak traffic.
Under the revised arrangement, heavy goods vehicles will not be permitted on the corridor from 7 am to 11 am, 1 pm to 3 pm and 4 pm to 9 pm. Earlier, the restriction was limited to the morning period between 7 am and 11 am.
The decision follows increasing traffic problems along the stretch, where school buses and private vehicles regularly get caught in long queues. Traffic officials said the additional afternoon and evening restrictions were introduced after considering both school movement and the overall traffic situation.
The problem became particularly visible during the recent school examination period. Reports from the area described students spending unusually long periods inside school buses because of traffic congestion. In one reported case, a journey of about four kilometres took nearly two and a half hours.
Parents living along the Varthur Gunjur corridor have repeatedly raised concerns about delays during school dispersal hours. Some students were reportedly delayed while travelling home after classes, while school buses struggled to move through congested sections of the road.
The corridor is home to several large schools, increasing the number of school buses and private vehicles during specific hours. The combination of school traffic, residential growth and heavy vehicles has placed additional pressure on a road network that is already dealing with infrastructure work.
Traffic officials have pointed out that the road is relatively narrow and contains several T junctions. Since the route is also a state highway, it carries a considerable volume of heavy vehicles. Trucks entering the corridor during peak periods can add further pressure at already busy junctions.
The new timings are intended to spread traffic more evenly by keeping heavy goods vehicles away from the corridor when school buses and regular commuters are most active.
The restrictions are not being described as a permanent solution to the larger traffic problem. Police have said the measures will remain until traffic movement improves substantially and road conditions become better suited to the volume of vehicles using the corridor.
Infrastructure work is also taking place along the Varthur Gunjur stretch. Residents have continued to complain about bottlenecks and damaged sections of the road, while traffic congestion has become a regular part of the daily commute.
The recent traffic situation has put particular pressure on schoolchildren. Some parents told local media that children were reaching school late or spending much longer than expected on their journey home. During examinations, the delays became an even greater concern because students had fixed reporting and departure times.
The traffic restrictions are therefore aimed at one immediate part of the problem. By keeping heavy goods vehicles away during the busiest school and commuter periods, authorities hope to create more space for school buses and other vehicles.
Enforcement teams have also been deployed at entry points to prevent heavy vehicles from entering during the restricted periods. Officials acknowledged that some vehicles had entered before the restrictions became active, making enforcement an important part of the new arrangement.
The situation has also prompted attention from government officials. Following public concern over the traffic conditions, Bengaluru Development Minister Krishna Byre Gowda held a review meeting and directed officials to give priority to pothole repairs and road related problems in the affected areas.
For residents, the latest traffic order could provide some relief during the busiest hours, but the longer term situation will depend on road improvements and better traffic management. The Varthur Gunjur area has expanded rapidly as residential and commercial development increased, putting more vehicles on infrastructure that was not designed for today’s traffic volume.
For schoolchildren, however, even a modest improvement in travel time could make a noticeable difference. Long delays affect not only school arrival and departure but also the routine of students, parents and school transport operators.
The revised restrictions are now in effect during the three specified time windows. Commuters using the Varthur Gunjur route should therefore expect changes in heavy vehicle movement, particularly during the morning, afternoon and evening periods.
Authorities are expected to monitor the results of the new arrangement and assess whether further measures are needed as road work continues and traffic volumes change.
