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

Account subscription benefits alongside Premium Stories, Editorials, Opinions and more. Unlock these with Subscription

Vehicles, including school buses, stuck in traffic on SH-35 in Varthur, East Bengaluru. | Photo Credit: ALLEN EGENUSE J.

It was not the first time that Kashvee, a grade 8 student of a school located on State Highway 35 near Dommasandra Circle, had consoled a nine-year-old boy sitting next to her on the school bus.

“He didn’t tell us that he wanted to use the restroom, but kept crying. He thought he would reach home in time, but we were stuck at the same point on the road for 20 minutes,” Kashvee explained.

She said children breaking down on her school bus had become a frequent occurrence. Helpers on school buses located in the Varthur, Gunjur, and Dommasandra areas in the eastern part of the city say this issue persists on many buses.

There is one trigger for all this: prolonged congestion on SH-35 and connecting roads, leaving the buses stranded. Complaints of migraine and nausea are common. Some girls say it is a nightmare during periods. Some feel claustrophobic and refuse to stay inside the bus, said helpers who spoke to The Hindu .

“The dust, smoke, and constant honking makes sitting in one place unbearable,” Kashvee said.

In the last two years, traffic congestion in the area has grown multifold, with frequent instances of prolonged congestion going viral on social media and drawing criticism.

Vehicles, including school buses, stuck in traffic on SH-35 in Varthur, East Bengaluru. | Photo Credit: ALLEN EGENUSE J.

Different authorities blame the Karnataka Road Development Corporation Ltd. (KRDCL) for delaying the widening of SH-35 and Varthur Kodi elevated corridor works. However, a recent Bengaluru Traffic Police (BTP) analysis of traffic trends in the area suggests that the problem is layered and that multiple factors contribute to the congestion.

While the Varthur-Gunjur stretch is a nightmare, congestion is not an issue specific to only this area. However, while in most other areas regular commuters suffer the congestion on the stretches surrounding educational institutions, here children getting stranded in buses has emerged as a major issue.

Kashvee explained that by the time they reach home, it is mostly 4.30 p.m. to 5 p.m., and on bad days, it can 6 p.m. “Such schedules leave us with no time for extracurricular activities, and our only option is Sundays,” she said.

Sunitha, a parent, points out that this leaves little time for parents to focus on their children, especially working parents. “Beyond studies, we don’t get to speak to them about anything. Because of fear of traffic, children have to start early in the morning the next day,” she said.

The effect has also led schools cutting down on a few activities. Nooraine Fazal, founding managing trustee and CEO, Inventure Academy, said: “Long traffic hours have taken a toll on the health and studies of hundreds of children in our school. By the time children reach home, they are tired and unable to focus on studies. Also, long hours in the bus have made them irritable and they experience mood swings.