Bengaluru Police Pause Two-Wheeler Ban on Yelahanka Airport Road Corridor After Traffic Chaos

The Bengaluru Traffic Police (BTP) and the Karnataka state government have put on hold the proposed ban on two-wheelers along the Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) Road elevated corridor, which runs up to Vidyashilpa Junction in Yelahanka. The restriction, originally slated to take full effect from September 4, was intended to curb fatal accidents along the stretch. However, initial enforcement led to severe traffic bottlenecks at entry and diversion ramps near Hebbal and Yelahanka, forcing thousands of two-wheeler riders onto already congested surface arterial roads. Following widespread outrage from commuters—many of whom pointed out that surface detours tripled their travel time—Joint Commissioner of Police (Traffic) M.N. Anucheth and senior officials reviewed the ground situation. Authorities observed that diverting multiple vehicle categories, including goods vehicles, two-wheelers, and autorickshaws, simultaneously created unsafe queuing and heavy delays on the surface roads running through Yelahanka. As a result, the police announced that two-wheelers will continue to be allowed on the Yelahanka-bound elevated corridor for now, with any future restrictions being introduced only in phases. For residents and daily commuters in Yelahanka, this move brings immediate relief, ensuring smoother connectivity to central Bengaluru while traffic managers re-evaluate safety measures and surface-level traffic infrastructure.