Kuruba rally throws traffic out of gear on Bengaluru outskirts

Massive traffic jam on Chennai-Mumbai National Highway and NICE Road due to the Kuruba rally at the BIEC. 

A massive traffic jam on Chennai-Mumbai National Highway and NICE Road due to the Kuruba rally at the BIEC. dh photo

Traffic on the busy Mumbai-Chennai National Highway and NICE Road was thrown out of gear on Sunday after thousands of supporters from the Kuruba community descended on the Bengaluru International Exhibition Centre (BIEC), near Nelamangala, on the outskirts of Bengaluru.

Anticipating traffic chaos due to the massive crowd, the Bengaluru police had proposed alternative routes for those travelling to Bengaluru and Kempegowda International Airport from Tumakuru, Chitradurga, Davanagere and Shivamogga.

However, the swelling crowd put paid to cops’ calculations. Adding to woes, supporters had parked their vehicles, buses all along the road blocking the highway.

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As a result, the National Highway witnessed traffic jams spanning several kilometres. The situation on NICE road was no different, with trucks queuing up for several kilometres to pass through the BIEC junction.

The alternative roads proposed by the traffic police yielded some success till afternoon, but as supporters began to leave the venue the sudden rush threw traffic out of gear.

Ambulances rushing towards Bengaluru were caught in long traffic jams on the highway.

Airport travellers were allowed to travel via Dobbaspet, Doddaballapur and KIA, while Bengaluru-bound travellers via Dobbaspet, Gudemaranahalli hand-post, Magadi Road, NICE Road and Mysuru Road.

Facilitating the arrival of supporters to the rally, ministers had requested the highway toll collecting agencies to exempt rally-bound vehicles. As a result, separate lanes were provided for rally vehicles at three toll plazas.

Traffic police on duty told DH that the reason for the sudden traffic jam was haphazard parking of vehicles by people attending the rally.

“The designated parking slots were brimming with vehicles by noon and there was hardly any place for parking,” said a senior traffic police officer.

“Due to this, those who had come on two-wheelers, cars and private buses had parked their vehicles all along the service road from Madanayakanahalli to Nagasandra toll.”