Bengaluru: Kamaraj Road reopens after 7 years; to ease CBD traffic & cut commute time

Bengaluru: Kamaraj Road, a key arterial stretch in the Central Business District (CBD), has fully reopened to traffic after long-pending metro works.

The road, closed between Cubbon Road and MG Road on June 15, 2019, for the MG Road underground metro station, is now accessible on both sides.

The 220-metre stretch connecting Cubbon Road to the Cauvery Emporium Junction was a bottleneck for nearly six-and-a-half years due to Namma Metro Pink Line’s underground station.

The west carriageway reopened on June 14, 2024. With the east carriageway reopening on Friday, the stretch is now fully restored.

The reconstructed road spans 214 metres with a minimum width of 11 metres on each carriageway, allowing smoother flow.

The reopening is expected to ease congestion and improve connectivity between Commercial Street and Brigade Road. The reopening has decongested Anil Kumble Circle and BRV Junction.

Motorists from Commercial Street to Brigade Road no longer need detours via Dickenson or Queen’s Road. With barricades gone, vehicles have a direct route, reducing peak travel time by 10 to 15 minutes.

Sunil Kumar, a commuter from Ulsoor, said, "The detour through Infantry Road was tiresome. This saves me so much fuel and time."

Ramesh, an autorickshaw driver, added, "Earlier, taking a passenger from Shivajinagar to Brigade Road meant a 2-km detour. Now, it is a straight shot. It is a huge relief for us."

'True test from Monday'  

While traffic was smooth on Friday, the ACP (Central, Traffic) noted the true test will come from Monday.

"As it is the New Year holiday and a weekend, traffic is currently normal. We will see the actual impact on Monday when officegoers return after their break," the ACP added.