Crawl, stop, repeat: The rough road to school in Bengaluru

In Bengaluru's eastern region, school children are facing a challenging commute on State Highway 35 and its connecting roads, leading to frequent delays and discomfort. Kashvee, an 8th-grade student, recounted how she often helped a nine-year-old boy who was crying, fearing he would miss his home by the time the bus reached it. This issue is not unique to one area; it is a widespread problem where children get stuck for hours on end.

The main trigger is the heavy congestion on these roads, which leaves the buses stranded and students feeling trapped, claustrophobic, and even nauseous. The delay in widening the SH-35 and Varthur Kodi elevated corridor has been blamed for this ongoing issue, but a recent analysis suggests that multiple factors contribute to the congestion.

Parents, such as Sunitha, worry about the impact on their children's studies and social life, as the long travel times leave little time for extracurricular activities or family time. Schools like Inventure Academy have even had to cut down on after-school activities due to the traffic congestion, as the tired and irritable students face mood swings that make it difficult for parents and teachers to engage with them.

The situation is particularly acute near educational institutions, with traffic heat maps showing a slowdown after 2.30 p.m. in school zones, leading to double the usual travel time. Charan Raj, a regular commuter, blames parents and private school vans for haphazard parking, which contributes to the congestion. The Bengaluru Traffic Police have acknowledged the issue but argue that their enforcement efforts have increased, although they admit that their focus has been on non-peak hours rather than managing traffic during the peak periods when the problem is most severe.