Thu Oct 02 15:24:33 UTC 2025: **Bengaluru’s ORR Faces “Work From Traffic” as Tech Companies End Hybrid Arrangements**
**Bengaluru, October 2, 2025** – Daily commuters on Bengaluru’s Outer Ring Road (ORR), a major tech corridor, are bracing for worsening traffic conditions as more companies mandate a full return to office, ditching hybrid work arrangements. The increased traffic is reigniting calls for infrastructural improvements and faster completion of the Blue Line metro to alleviate the daily gridlock.
“There is hardly 12 km between my home and office. But on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays I start from home at around 8.30 a.m. and reach the office only by 10.30 a.m. With more traffic expected, I wonder how early I should start henceforth,” says Vijay (name changed), who works at the Bengaluru office of an American multinational company.
An estimated 800,000 to 1 million employees commute daily between K.R. Puram and Silk Board, serving approximately 500 tech companies located within 26 major tech parks. Bottlenecks at Sarjapura signal, Devarabeesanahalli stop, and Ecospace are regular occurrences.
Commuters are suggesting solutions such as staggered work shifts, reminiscent of practices during past power shortages. Jays Chandy, a daily commuter, suggests, “If private schools can start before 8.30 a.m. and government schools can start after 9 a.m., that might help ease the situation a bit. The rest of the problem can only be solved by the government, traffic police, and disciplined drivers on the road.”
Manas Das, president of the ORR Companies Association (ORRCA), acknowledges the potential for increased congestion, noting the already slow average vehicle speed of 5-6 kmph. He also pointed out that arterial roads of ORR used by a lot of people are also in a state of neglect adding to the problem.
S. Mayur, spokesperson for the Greater Bengaluru IT Companies and Industries Association, stated that his association has suggested that companies continue with 50% work-from-home arrangements for at least three months, while the government addresses road repairs and infrastructure issues.
Bengaluru’s traffic authorities acknowledge the expected increase in traffic and are deploying more personnel. “We are deploying more personnel on the ground. But we have also requested the companies to encourage their employees to take public transport, stagger their timings and look at the option of car pooling. The only solution to congestion as of now is decreasing the number of vehicles,” said Karthik Reddy, Deputy Inspector General and Joint Commissioner of Police (Traffic), Bengaluru.
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