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Bengaluru’s Traffic: A Collective Trauma

Bengaluru’s traffic has transformed from a local concern into a shared trauma. Once celebrated as India’s technology capital, the city now challenges its workforce with congested roads, inadequate public transport, and an escalating feeling of resignation, intensified with each delayed commute.

Travel Times Transforming Lives

In areas like Whitefield, Hebbal, and along the Outer Ring Road, journey durations defy reason, making even brief trips feel like arduous tasks. Promises of better infrastructure are prevalent, yet for many locals, each rush hour signifies a gradual decline.

A Voice of Discontent

Reflecting the deepening frustration, a user on Reddit expressed the prevailing feeling candidly: Bengaluru, dubbed the Silicon Valley of India, represents a “city that exhausts you one commute at a time.”

The user recounted, “Departed the office at 6 PM and arrived home at 9:15. The distance? Just 12 km. There was no rain, no protests, no accidents—just Bengaluru being… Bengaluru. The bus that usually services my route failed to arrive today. The usual apps, Tummoc or Namma BMTC, yielded no information—only silence. After waiting, I decided to take another bus in hopes of switching routes. That bus stranded me midway, launching the quest for an auto-rickshaw.”

The post highlighted issues in ride-hailing services and exorbitant fares, noting, “Namma Yatri? Not one driver accepted unless I provided a tip of over ₹50. The notion of an ‘optional tip’ is laughable in this city. The meter? A joke. I ultimately paid more for an auto than I would for an intercity bus. The most disheartening aspect? I felt no surprise—just exhaustion.”

Disillusioned with what they perceived as the failure of a tech-oriented city to address fundamental issues, the Redditor added, “This should be the startup capital of the nation. A hub of innovation tackling urban challenges. One would assume that basic commuting would be a priority to resolve. Instead, we’ve become accustomed to this madness. We expect it. We allocate time for delays, carry extra chargers, bring along water bottles, and mentally prepare ourselves each time we depart from work.”

“It’s as if the city gradually wears you down, not through a single significant failure but rather through countless minor frustrations daily,” the user articulated. “Yet, there remains a persistent glimmer of hope in the recesses of my mind that perhaps, one day, it will improve. I am uncertain when, but I wish to believe it will.”

The Online Response

This post resonated widely on social media.

“Mate, at least your office is 12 km away; some of us commute over 30 km each day. Travelling is a genuine hassle with traffic so unbearable… today I was stuck for 20-30 minutes in Hebbal traffic because of ongoing metro and flyover construction. We’re in deep trouble,” one commenter remarked.

Another shared their experience, “I once left Whitefield at 5:30 and got home at 10. This was before the metro project began. It’s astonishing how this issue has persisted for more than ten years, while our politicians seem focused only on trivial matters.”

A third individual expressed frustration, stating, “The commute is terrible, coupled with awful bosses and a constant state of low mood. I have made a firm decision— I’ll tolerate this for a maximum of two years, save and invest as much as possible, and eventually relocate closer to my hometown or consider moving to a smaller city like Mysore. My family needs me; I cannot become just another statistic succumbed to stress.”

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