Full Breakdown
Varthur-Gunjur Corridor’s Gridlock Traps Schoolchildren in Hours-Long Commutes
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event: Chronic Congestion on State Highway 35
State Highway 35 (SH-35), the nine-kilometre Varthur-Gunjur stretch linking eastern Bengaluru’s residential zones to the Whitefield tech hub, has become a daily choke point. Parents report school buses covering five to six kilometres in over two hours. Bengaluru Traffic Police attribute the slowdown to ongoing civic works, narrow road geometry, and a lack of traffic-signal control at three major junctions—Varthur Police Station, Gunjur-Mugulur Road, and the Muthasandra Main Road crossing.
Background & Context
The corridor lies in the Mahadevapura Assembly constituency and hosts more than 20 top schools and a growing stock of high-rise apartments. Heavy-vehicle traffic, including construction and commercial trucks, shares the road with school buses and local commuters. Civic works that began in 2019—most notably a flyover at Varthur Kodi and a widening project for SH-35—have stalled, with the original 2021 deadline still unmet.
Data & Statistics
- Road length: 9 km (SH-35) versus 17.1 km Outer Ring Road (ORR) segment it now rivals in congestion.
- Key choke points: 3 junctions lacking traffic signals.
- Connecting routes: Over 8 major feeder roads funnel additional traffic onto SH-35.
- School density: 18–20 major schools line the stretch.
- Infrastructure gaps: Open drains, uncovered culverts, large potholes and blocked footpaths.
Official Statements & Responses
- Additional Commissioner Snehal Sudhakar (East City Corporation) said land-acquisition disputes delayed the flyover and widening works and that the corporation is now issuing transfer-of-development rights (TDRs) while processing compensation claims.
- Development Minister Krishna Byre Gowda convened a high-level review, directing contractors to prioritize pothole repairs on the Varthur-Kodi segment and warning of possible contractor replacement.
- Commissioner DS Ramesh (East City Corporation) ordered immediate pothole filling at Varthur and Gunjur junctions, resolution of culvert-slab issues, and stricter enforcement against illegal waste dumping, tasking traffic police with coordinating repairs.
- MP PC Mohan urged agencies to prioritise road and drainage works, citing the presence of 18–20 major schools.
Criticism & Opposition
Residents and parents have voiced sharp criticism of the delays. Pavitra Holla described the area as a “whirlpool of mud,” noting that children arrive home exhausted and covered in dust. Nooraine Fazal, founder of Inventure Academy, called for immediate removal of heavy vehicles during school-peak hours and stricter penalties for traffic violations, arguing the situation jeopardises children’s health and education.
On-the-Ground Reports
Eyewitnesses report manual traffic control by police officers and local volunteers at the three major junctions. Pedestrians such as Rohan say crossing the road takes five minutes, while walking the length of the stretch is “impossible” due to mud-filled footpaths and uncovered drains. Residents have taken informal action, filling potholes with stones and forming a human chain in September 2025 to demand repairs.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
- Travel time estimates vary: some parents cite 2 hours for a 5-km commute, while Nooraine Fazal mentions journeys lasting up to seven hours in extreme cases.
- Rain-related impacts are noted, but the extent to which recent monsoon rains versus structural deficiencies contributed to the gridlock remains unclear.
- The exact status of the flyover project is disputed; officials point to land-acquisition hurdles, whereas some local groups claim contractor negligence.
What’s Next
The East City Corporation has slated urgent pothole repairs at the identified junctions and plans to explore alternative routing to ease school-hour traffic. Coordination with traffic police during repair works and the establishment of a smoother entry-exit system at Gunjur Palya are also slated for immediate implementation. No further dates have been announced for the completion of the flyover or widening projects.