Bengaluru’s Panathur Road shut for 21 days: School buses stuck, residents upset

White-topping work leaves commuters, school buses stranded; local residents seek work-from-home option.

The 21-day traffic restriction on Panathur Main Road, imposed from October 10 for white-topping work by the city civic body, has thrown the area into disarray. Parents, residents, and office-goers have expressed anger over what they call “poor planning” and “lack of preparedness” by civic authorities.

According to the advisory issued by Deputy Commissioner of Police (Traffic East Division) Sahil Bagla on X (formerly Twitter), vehicular movement on both sides of Panathur Main Road will remain prohibited till October 31 to facilitate BBMP’s road work. The police have recommended alternative routes for commuters.

Alternative routes have been suggested for the following routes:

Vehicles coming from Whitefield and Varthur towards Kadubeesanahalli and Devarabeesanahalli can take a right turn at Balagere T Junction, proceed via VIBGYOR Road towards Varthur Main Road, then turn left near Marathahalli Bridge to reach the Outer Ring Road (ORR).

Similarly, vehicles travelling from Bellandur towards Varthur and Whitefield are advised to use ORR via Marathahalli Bridge, connecting to Varthur Main Road.

However, residents say the detours are in poor condition and nearly unmanageable during peak hours.

“School buses are stuck for hours on either side of the S-Cross and Panathur railway underbridge. Children are reaching home late and hungry,” said a Panathur resident. “This work could have been done during school holidays instead of regular working days.”

Residents living between Boganahalli Road and Panathur RUB say they are struggling with daily commutes.

“How are we supposed to travel? There’s no clear access road left,” said a Kadubeesanahalli resident.

Parents have urged authorities to coordinate with schools to stagger timings or set up temporary pick-up points.

Locals have also appealed to IT companies along the Outer Ring Road corridor to allow employees to work from home until the project is completed.

“If ORR companies permit temporary WFH, it will ease congestion and help parents manage better,” said an IT professional.

Citizens say the chaos was preventable.

“We’ve repeatedly requested authorities to repair alternate roads before starting major projects. Unfortunately, that never happens. Now the entire stretch feels like a war zone,” said another resident.