Bengaluru Schoolchildren Stuck for Hours in Varthur-Gunjur Jams
Bengaluru Schoolchildren Stuck for Hours in Varthur-Gunjur Jams
Anonymous
Key Points
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The traffic jam was reported on September 17 along SH-35 near Gunjur, on the stretch leading toward Varthur, and was described as extending for several kilometres.
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Parents said the road’s problems extend beyond congestion: residents cited loose gravel, dust, broken streetlights and inadequate maintenance, with conditions becoming worse during rain because of water-filled potholes and muddy stretches.
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Parent Hari said residents had witnessed several serious incidents in the previous year, including a school bus toppling, a woman suffering serious injuries after a fall and a biker nearly losing his life after falling because of a pothole.
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The petition specifically calls for regulation of heavy and construction vehicles during school hours and a joint inspection involving authorities, schools and parent representatives.
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Parents described the disruption as a recurring burden despite living close to schools; Hari said he and his wife had taken a substantial home loan partly to be nearer their daughter’s school, yet a two-kilometre journey still took two hours.
Schoolchildren in Bengaluru's Varthur-Gunjur and Whitefield areas are spending two hours or more stuck in traffic on routes that should take just minutes. Good Returns reports that a roughly 5-kilometer school bus journey now routinely takes two hours, while another parent described a 2-kilometer trip lasting the same duration. The gridlock on September 17 drew widespread attention after entrepreneur Ritish Reddy highlighted the crisis on social media.
The root causes extend beyond traffic alone. News18 cites severe congestion, ongoing construction, and deteriorating road conditions including potholes, loose gravel, broken streetlights, and inadequate maintenance. More than 2,500 residents have signed a petition demanding urgent road repairs, improved traffic management, and restrictions on heavy vehicles during school hours.
Why a 2-Kilometer Commute Takes Two Hours
The Varthur-Gunjur stretch on SH-35 faces multiple bottlenecks. The South First notes that ongoing infrastructure work, white-topping projects, and heavy construction traffic have created severe gridlock on this major east Bengaluru route. Police sources attributed recent congestion partly to active roadwork that restricts lanes and slows movement.
Roads deteriorate further during monsoon season. Loose gravel, dust, and water-filled potholes turn stretches muddy and impassable. One parent, Hari, noted that despite living close to school and taking a large home loan for proximity, the two-kilometer journey still consumed two hours regularly.
Safety Hazards Putting Children at Risk
Residents report serious incidents linked to road conditions. Newsbytes documents a school bus toppling, a woman suffering severe injuries after a fall, and a motorcyclist nearly losing his life after hitting a pothole. The combination of traffic stress and hazardous road design has created a dangerous environment for commuters.
Long commutes also harm child development. Moneycontrol reports parents expressing deep concern about the impact on their children's health and well-being. One parent said, 'Our kids are growing up in traffic,' highlighting frustration over time lost to commuting instead of rest or education.
Parents Demand Action From Civic Authorities
The petition now carries nearly 5,000 signatures, according to The South First, demanding urgent repairs and coordinated action. Specific requests include regulation of heavy and construction vehicles during school hours, improved traffic management, and joint inspections involving civic authorities, schools, and parent representatives.
Parents view the crisis as preventable. They pay substantial taxes yet face infrastructure failures that force their children into dangerous, time-consuming commutes. The gridlock reveals gaps between housing demand, school capacity, and actual road quality in rapidly growing east Bengaluru suburbs.
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