Bengaluru's Traffic Crisis Deepens as NH-44 Section Collapses
In a stark reminder of Bengaluru's notorious traffic problems, a significant portion of Hosur Road on National Highway-44 caved in early Wednesday morning, creating massive disruptions for commuters. The 100-metre collapse near Chandapura turned this crucial arterial road into a chaotic bottleneck, leaving hundreds of vehicles stranded for hours.
Construction Work and Heavy Traffic Blamed for Cave-In
The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) confirmed that excavation work for a vehicular overpass construction likely contributed to the incident. An NHAI official explained that round-the-clock movement of heavy trucks, combined with vibrations and soil loosening from ongoing construction, caused the road section to give way.
"Due to heavy traffic congestion, including the round-the-clock movement of heavy trucks, vibrations and loosening of soil, a portion of the road caved in," the official stated. "Following the incident, instructions were issued to the contractor to immediately take up backfilling work, and measures are being implemented to prevent any further cave-in."
Commuters Face Extreme Delays and Frustration
The collapse created severe traffic snarls during peak hours, particularly affecting:
- Public transport users relying on city buses
- Motorists heading to Electronics City and other major office complexes
- Vehicles entering Bengaluru from Tamil Nadu and Kerala
Nitin Kumar, a regular commuter, described the situation: "The six-lane road has been reduced to just two lanes. For months, motorists faced traffic issues, but there was no relief from the authorities. People are taking 2-3 hours to reach Attibele from Bommasandra, a distance of just about 12km."
Long-Term Traffic Woes Expected to Continue
Motorists using Hosur Road should brace for continued congestion as construction activity progresses at multiple locations along the stretch. The NHAI is currently undertaking several major projects:
- Building vehicular underpasses at four locations
- Widening the highway within the Karnataka stretch of NH-44
- Constructing a railway overbridge through Rail Infrastructure Development Company (Karnataka)
These extensive works, with a budget of ₹175 crore, are expected to take at least two more years for completion. On the opposite side of the affected stretch, work is underway to build a four-lane road, with traffic diversion plans being implemented to ease congestion.
Accident Blackspots Being Addressed
The NHAI has identified four accident blackspots on NH-44 that require attention:
- Chandapura (where Wednesday's collapse occurred)
- Guddahatti
- Huskur
- Guestline
Work at the Chandapura junction began last year with excavation activities, highlighting the ongoing challenges of maintaining infrastructure under heavy traffic conditions.
Commuters Express Growing Frustration
Sreejith, a motorist traveling from Kerala to Bengaluru, shared his experience: "Every time we drive from Kerala to Bengaluru, the Attibele stretch is a nightmare. We cover nearly 300km through Kerala and Tamil Nadu with ease, and we get stuck at the last lap. By then, we are tired and hoping to get home soon. What awaits us at the Bengaluru entry point is a long queue of vehicles navigating roadworks. The lack of civic sense among some drivers makes it worse."
The incident underscores the broader transportation challenges facing India's technology capital, where infrastructure development struggles to keep pace with rapid urban growth and increasing vehicular traffic.
