SP MP Rajeev Rai slams Bengaluru’s “worst traffic management”, tags CM Siddaramaiah and top police officials

Bengaluru: The Silicon City’s infamous traffic gridlock sparked a fresh storm on Sunday after Samajwadi Party MP Rajeev Rai publicly criticised the Karnataka government and Bengaluru traffic police for what he described as “the worst traffic management system.”

Rai, who was in Bengaluru briefly before heading to Delhi for the Winter Session of Parliament, took to social media platform X to express frustration and disappointment over the ordeal he faced on city roads.

In a strongly worded post tagging Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Bengaluru Police Commissioner Sibi Sekhar Sinha (or correct name as applicable), and the Joint Commissioner of Traffic Police, Rai wrote, “Hon’ble Chief Minister, your city has the worst traffic management. Traffic police are irresponsible and useless.” His remarks quickly went viral, triggering a wave of public reaction.

Rai, a Rajya Sabha MP from the Samajwadi Party, said he was stuck for hours on Dr. Rajkumar Samadhi Road due to massive congestion. According to him, not a single traffic policeman was seen managing the situation. To strengthen his allegation, he posted a screenshot showing his unanswered phone call made to the Bengaluru Traffic Police helpline.

“There was no traffic police presence along the entire stretch. Even phone calls to the traffic control room were not received,” he wrote. “We were stranded for hours. I had to reach the airport to travel to Delhi for the Parliamentary Winter Session, but due to the severe gridlock, reaching on time became extremely difficult.”

Rai further accused city authorities of damaging Bengaluru’s reputation, despite its global status as a hub of innovation and technology. “These incapable officers are enough to ruin the name of this beautiful city. Undoubtedly, Bengaluru traffic has now earned the notorious reputation of being the worst in the country,” he said.

His post resonated with thousands of commuters who endure similar traffic chaos daily. Several citizens replied to his post, sharing their own experiences and calling for urgent reforms. Many expressed frustration that despite repeated complaints, prolonged jams, bottlenecks, and poor on-ground enforcement continue to plague the city.

Traffic congestion in Bengaluru is not new, but Rai’s public criticism — especially tagging the Chief Minister and top police officials — has reignited the debate about the city’s infrastructural constraints, inadequate manpower, and the urgent need for a more scientific traffic management system.

Experts have repeatedly stressed the need for better signal synchronisation, improved road design, enhanced public transport capacity, and increased deployment of trained personnel.

Rai’s remarks also come at a time when several international studies have ranked Bengaluru among the world’s most congested cities. While the government has announced multiple long-term plans, including metro expansion and road infrastructure upgrades, commuters say on-ground coordination and real-time management remain deeply lacking.

With the MP’s comments gaining traction online, the pressure is now mounting on the state government and city police to address the allegations and take concrete steps. As of now, neither the CM’s office nor the Bengaluru Police have responded publicly to Rai’s criticism.

For Bengaluru’s lakhs of daily commuters, Rai’s post reflects a sentiment they experience regularly — frustration, helplessness, and hope for meaningful change in a city struggling to keep pace with its rapid growth.

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