Bengaluru: A stretch of road barely five kilometres long has become a daily nightmare for schoolchildren and commuters in Bengaluru’s Varthur-Gunjur area, with some journeys reportedly taking close to two hours during peak school and office hours.
The severe congestion on the Varthur-Gunjur Road has turned what should be a short commute into a prolonged ordeal, particularly for students travelling to and from schools in the rapidly developing eastern Bengaluru corridor.
Heavy Traffic During School Hours
The problem becomes particularly acute in the morning and afternoon when school buses, private vehicles, two-wheelers and office traffic converge on the narrow and heavily used road.
Parents and school transport operators have raised concerns about children spending long periods inside buses, sometimes travelling only a few kilometres despite leaving well in advance.
The congestion also creates difficulties for emergency vehicles and other essential services, while pedestrians face additional risks along busy stretches with limited space.
Rapid Development, Limited Road Capacity
Varthur and Gunjur have witnessed rapid residential and commercial development in recent years. A growing number of apartment complexes, schools, offices and businesses has increased traffic substantially.
However, road capacity and supporting infrastructure have struggled to keep pace with the area’s growth.
Traffic bottlenecks at junctions, ongoing infrastructure work, encroachments and insufficient pedestrian facilities can further slow movement during peak hours.
Why Schoolchildren Are Particularly Affected
For schoolchildren, the issue is more than simply losing commuting time.
Long journeys can mean students have to leave home significantly earlier and return much later in the afternoon. School buses caught in gridlock can also disrupt pickup and drop-off schedules for families.
Parents are increasingly concerned about the impact of unpredictable travel times on children’s daily routines.
A Larger Bengaluru Infrastructure Challenge
The Varthur-Gunjur traffic problem reflects a wider challenge facing Bengaluru’s rapidly expanding eastern suburbs.
Areas that were once relatively low-density have transformed into major residential and employment hubs. Infrastructure, however, often develops more slowly than real-estate and population growth.
For residents, the immediate demand is for better traffic management, improved road infrastructure, safer pedestrian facilities and faster completion of planned connectivity projects.
Until these issues are addressed, the five-kilometre journey between Varthur and Gunjur is likely to remain a frustrating daily commute for thousands of residents—including schoolchildren.
