Bangalore: Designed by Bangalore Development Authority to divert commercial heavy vehicles away from the city roads, the Outer Ring Road has only partly served its purpose of linking the outer suburbs as well.

Reckless driving with disregard for safety has resulted in a number of accidents on this ring road, mostly involving trucks. The city has now spread to the ring road itself, as it is convenient for those working in the information technology belt. Along with residential complexes have come up several commercial establishments. The resulting traffic flow is in danger of making the ring road as congested as many of the roads in the city centre.

The 62-km stretch of the road running around the suburbs is not easy for the traffic police to patrol on a regular basis, especially at night. It is also difficult for them to control heavy vehicle movement; the road after all was designed for them. What worries them most is the stretch near Mysore Road, from Kengeri Satellite Town onwards which has now become parking space for trucks. These trucks considerably reduce road space for other, smaller vehicles. Traffic snarls are common in the mornings and late evenings.

Construction activity

Around Nagarbhavi, the ring road is lined with several large buildings under construction; much of the material, including gravel, stones, sand and even steel rods, spill over to the road. Between Kottigepalya and Magadi Main Road the road is more congested than ever with trucks and smaller vehicles almost fighting for road space.

Between Laggere and Hebbal, traffic density is again heavy. From HRBR Layout till Banaswadi the road condition is better but this has led to over speeding. Between Krishnarajapuram and Marathahalli, traffic again slows down. A large number of residential complexes, including upmarket villa enclaves, are coming up in that area.

Despite its drawbacks, the Outer Ring Road has served its purpose of considerably reducing lorry traffic closer to the city roads, urban planners and the traffic police have claimed. Once the Peripheral Ring Road, connecting the three national highways, Mysore Road and Kanakapura Road, is completed, traffic congestion on the ring road will be reduced, they point out. Meanwhile, strict policing of the ring road is planned to reduce accidents.

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