Following several complaints, BMTC launches crackdown on buses making unofficial stops on Nagawara flyover

The Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) has launched a crackdown on buses stopping on the Nagawara and Veeranapalya flyovers near Manyata Tech Park, following several complaints from commuters about safety hazards and traffic congestion.

For months, the BMTC buses had been making unofficial stops on the steep flyover ramps to pick up and drop off tech professionals travelling to and from Manyata Tech Park.

The practice forced passengers to alight onto narrow stretches without protective barriers, just inches away from fast-moving traffic, exposing them to the risk of accidents.

The sudden halts caused blocked lanes and contributed to traffic congestion. Commuters said that the resulting bottlenecks frequently stretched for more than two kilometres, affecting thousands of people travelling through the area daily.

A commuter said that the situation had improved following a series of complaints, with the BMTC buses no longer stopping on the flyover ramps.

Radha S., a tech professional, said, “The problems were particularly severe during the rain. Heavy rain frequently causes flooding at the base of the flyovers, service roads and leaving vehicles stranded. On some occasions, the water level has risen high enough to enter moving buses.”

In response to the complaints and growing safety concerns, the BMTC has instructed drivers to avoid stopping on the flyover approaches and use designated bus stops instead.

“The Sarathi teams have been looking into the issue. Drivers who violate the instructions are being directed not to repeat the mistake and to stop only at designated bus stops,” a BMTC officials said.

Commuters, however, have called for a more permanent solution to address the difficulties faced by tech professionals accessing the Manyata Tech Park campus. Manoj Kumar, a commuter, suggested allowing buses to enter the techpark through one ramp and exit through another, thereby avoiding the need to stop on the flyover.

“There is a ramp from the flyover into the tech park at one gate and another ramp from the tech park back to the flyover at another gate. The simplest and safest thing to do is to let the buses in to the tech park from one ramp and out through the other. It’s a win-win for everyone. This could’ve been done years ago too, but either the BMTC or Manyata doesn’t want this to happen,” he said.

He said that this arrangement could improve passenger safety, reduce congestion on the flyover approaches and provide a more convenient way for employees to access public transport.