In a letter to the Outer Ring Road Companies Association (ORRCA), Joint Commissioner of Police (Bengaluru traffic) MN Anucheth said, “This is to draw your attention to the fact that heavy traffic congestion is expected on August 14 due to the upcoming long weekend along with expected heavy rains.”
ORRCA represents technology parks, IT/TIeS companies and software research and development centres in ORR (Central Silk Board-KR Pura).
“To minimize disruption and avoid undue delays, member companies are requested to consider allowing work from home for their employees on August 14. This measure will not only reduce the number of vehicles on the road, but will also ensure a smoother journey for those who need to travel,” the notice said.
Anucheth told Moneycontrol, “One of the reasons behind issuing the warning is the long weekend, and another is the Met department’s prediction of rain for the next three days. We ran a simulation based on the events of last September and the last long weekend (January 26-28). We analysed the expected traffic for August 14 using data from online bus booking sites of aggregators and KSRTC. A total of 1,397 tickets were booked from 4 pm to 11 pm, which is three times more than normal. Also, KSRTC is operating around 700 buses, with another 400 on standby.”
“We simulated situations based on past data and experience. For example, if it is a normal Wednesday and it rains, the queue length could increase to about three times the normal level, which could lead to a traffic jam. That is why we submitted this request to ORRCA for consideration,” Anucheth said.
“The expected impact of both a rainy day and a long weekend is a 60 per cent increase in traffic congestion. The typical length of congestion during evening peak hours (6 pm to 9.30 pm) is 140 km. If there is no rain, the expected congestion on August 14 (Wednesday) during evening peak hours is 224 km. If there is rain, the expected congestion on August 14 during evening peak hours is over 360 km,” Anucheth said.
Anucheth said that this is not an order but a recommendation and that we are asking companies to consider it. “They have agreed to circulate it among their members. Even if 5-10% agree, there will be some reduction in traffic.”
Ramesh VT, general secretary of ORRCA, told Moneycontrol, “We have not mandated work from home on August 14, but we have communicated the notice to all companies. The respective companies will take a call. However, some companies said they received the notice late. This is a precautionary notice from the traffic police in view of the long weekend.”
Traffic police said that since Independence Day falls on Thursday, many people in the city are planning to leave on August 14 for a long weekend, which is likely to cause traffic congestion across the city.
On August 12, heavy rains lashed the tech capital Bengaluru, leading to traffic jams and waterlogging in many areas. A massive traffic jam occurred on Outer Ring Road and Hosur Road due to waterlogging. Many motorists were stuck for hours on the Electronics City flyover.
According to ORRCA, 9.5 lakh people are employed in over 500 companies in the technology corridor and 36 per cent of Bengaluru’s IT revenues, totalling $32.68 billion per annum, come from the KR Puram to Silk Board section of ORR. ($1 billion is roughly Rs 8,300 crore).
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