Traffic trouble for CBD as Residency Road stretch shut for white-topping

Bengaluru: Vehicles crawled in many parts of the Central Business District (CBD) on Sunday as the Bengaluru Traffic Police (BTP) have closed a key stretch of Residency Road for white-topping until May 31. 

The affected stretch, connecting Opera House Junction and Ashirwadam Junction, has been barricaded on both ends. The closure is disrupting regular traffic flow. 

The restriction on vehicle movement is causing congestion on adjacent roads such as St Mark’s Road, Richmond Road, and Brigade Road as commuters seek alternative routes. 

Key intersections such as Cash Pharmacy Junction and Old PS Junction may also experience heavier traffic due to the diversions. Travel times are expected to rise, especially for commuters heading towards Halasuru, Viveknagar, and Anil Kumble Circle. 

Alternative routes

To manage the situation, the police have suggested the following alternative routes: 

Vehicles moving towards HAL Airport and Marathahalli from Richmond Circle and the Richmond flyover via St Mark's Road need to take a left at Ashirvadam Circle and proceed via SBI Junction and Anil Kumble Circle. 

For traffic heading towards Adugodi from St Mark's Road via Hosur Road, the recommended route is Residency Road, Convent Road, Richmond Road, Rhenius Cross Road, Nanjappa Circle, and CMP Centre junction. 

Commuters travelling towards MG Road from Anepalya Junction on Hosur Road should proceed via Cemetery Cross Road, Nanjappa Circle, Richmond Circle, RRMR Circle, Siddalingaiah Circle, and Anil Kumble Circle. 

Those moving towards Vivekanagar and Halasuru from Anepalya Circle should take a U-turn at Old PS Junction and continue via Campbell Junction and Mother Teresa Junction. 

Purushotam Selvamani, a resident of Pulakeshinagar, said that owing to the traffic restriction on Residency Road, he took 20 minutes to cover the 1-km stretch from Bishop Cotton Girls' School to Anil Kumble Circle on a two-wheeler. 

"The traffic was really bad. I expected there to be less traffic on Sunday, but I wasn’t aware of the traffic restriction. If the traffic is this bad on Sunday, I cannot imagine how it will be during peak business hours,” he added.