Bengaluru’s infamous traffic had a fresh twist this week; commuters were not checking Google Maps for updates but turning to social media to see if yet another BMTC bus had broken down. The latest traffic mess
unfolded on the city’s Outer Ring Road (ORR) on Tuesday afternoon (October 14), leaving thousands stranded for hours near the busy Ecospace Junction.
By 4:30 pm, vehicles had piled up for several kilometres after a Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) bus stopped in the middle of the road. The Bengaluru Traffic Police later posted an advisory on X, saying, “Traffic advisory: Due to vehicle breakdown near the Eco space junction towards Marathahalli, Kadubeesanahalli, Devarabisanahalli, Bellandur is having slow-moving traffic.”
"ಸಂಚಾರ ಸಲಹೆ "
ಇಕೋ ಸ್ಪೇಸ್ ಜಂಕ್ಷನ್ ಬಳಿ ವಾಹನ ಕೆಟ್ಟು ನಿಂತಿರುವುದರಿಂದ ಮಾರತಹಳ್ಳಿ, ಕಾಡುಬೀಸನಹಳ್ಳಿ, ದೇವರಬೀಸನಹಳ್ಳಿ, ಬೆಳ್ಳಂದೂರು ಕಡೆಗೆ ನಿಧಾನಗತಿಯ ಸಂಚಾರವಿರುತ್ತದೆ."Traffic advisory”
Due to vehicle breakdown near Eco space junction towards Marathahalli , Kadubeesanahalli,Devarabisanahalli,… pic.twitter.com/4QcuCO5oK1— ಬೆಂಗಳೂರು ಸಂಚಾರ ಪೊಲೀಸ್ BengaluruTrafficPolice (@blrcitytraffic) October 14, 2025
How A Single Bus Caused Chaos
The breakdown happened right in the middle of peak office traffic, throwing Bengaluru’s tech corridor into chaos. People heading home from offices in Bellandur, Ecospace, and Marathahalli were stuck for hours as cabs, autos and bikes barely moved.
Many vented online, describing their ordeal. “Pathetic traffic.. it took 2 hours 10 mins from Brookfield to Sarjapur road, 12 kms,” said one user. Another joked, “One bus stopped on a road made the whole Bengaluru cry for hours.”
Some said it was the worst they had ever seen. “I experienced the worst traffic today, from Bagmane Mahadevapura to Brookfield – at least in the last 3 years,” wrote one commuter. “10 kms. 1hr 40 minutes on ORR. Unlivable city,” another added.
Commuters Turn To Social Media For Answers
As traffic came to a halt, many took to X to find out what was going on. “Why is there so much traffic today?” asked one user. The reply came quickly: “Heard some BMTC bus broke down.”
People tagged the Bengaluru Traffic Police and BMTC in posts, sharing photos and videos from the jam. Some blamed the buses for parking carelessly and blocking lanes. “Buses continue to block lanes, despite a bus bay 5m ahead. @BMTC_BENGALURU staff deployed there is a waste. Doesn’t enforce usage of the bus bay,” one person complained.
Another wrote, “Come rain or shine, BMTC buses block multiple lanes at M’halli bridge despite an amazing bus bay. How difficult is it to enforce?”
Has The Issue Been Resolved?
The Deputy Commissioner of Police, Traffic East Division, later posted that officers had inspected the Marathahalli Bridge Junction and instructed local teams to prevent unauthorised parking and manage the congestion. “On this day, during peak hour, the Marathahalli Bridge Junction of @halairporttrfps was visited and inspected… to prevent vehicular congestion,” read the post.
However, commuters were not convinced. “Sahil ji, no respite despite your instructions. Same scene unfolded this morning,” one user replied.
The HAL Airport Traffic Police responded, “Noted, we will check into it, Tq.”
While traffic eventually eased late in the evening, the incident highlighted just how common BMTC bus breakdowns have become, and how Bengaluru residents now instinctively log onto X, not to complain, but to confirm: “Did a bus break down again?”
