Reopening of Kamaraj Road brings relief, but commuters fear fresh traffic chaos on M.G. Road

Commuters in central Bengaluru have cautiously welcomed the full reopening of Kamaraj Road after nearly seven years. While the move has eased congestion on MG Road and surrounding stretches, the relief is expected to be temporary, with the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) planning to dig up MG Road for pipeline relaying works, raising concerns about renewed traffic snarls.

BWSSB is set to install new water supply and sewerage pipelines along both sides of the stretch between Brigade Road and Trinity Circle.

The reopening of Kamaraj Road has helped decongest Commercial Street and Brigade Road, which had borne the brunt of diverted traffic since the road was shut in June 2019 for the construction of the MG Road Underground Metro Station on the Gottigere–Nagawara (Pink Line) corridor.

Several commuters have said that the reopening has improved connectivity in the area, especially for those travelling between Cubbon Road and MG Road. “For years, this stretch was a bottleneck. Now, at least there is some breathing space, and traffic is not spilling endlessly into Brigade Road and Commercial Street,” said Shankar K.S., a daily office commuter.

However, not everyone is convinced that the situation has improved. Balaji R., who regularly drives through the central business district, noted that traffic signal coordination remains a major issue. “Driving on Cubbon Road has actually become worse after Kamaraj Road reopened. The signal near the junction now takes five to eight minutes to turn green, and vehicles pile up quickly during peak hours,” he said.

Adding to commuters’ worries is the impending BWSSB pipeline work on MG Road, which many fear will undo the progress made by the reopening of Kamaraj Road. “Just when one road opens, another is dug up. If MG Road is disrupted again, the entire area will slip back into chaos,” said another commuter, Mohan Babu.

Commuters have also expressed disappointment over the lack of greenery along the newly reopened stretch. Many blamed Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) for failing to restore the tree cover that once lined Kamaraj Road. “The road surface is well laid and smooth, but it feels bare and harsh. Earlier, this stretch had trees that offered shade and a pleasant drive. Now, it looks completely desolate,” Mr. Shankar added.

Meanwhile, BMRCL officials said that landscaping and greenery along the stretch would be taken up in the coming months as part of the post-construction restoration work.