Bengaluru’s traffic struggle—especially when it comes to getting to the airport—is no secret. But there might actually be a quicker way to reach Kempegowda International Airport that most people don’t know about. It’s the Budigere Cross Road, which cuts travel time to just one hour from Whitefield. And yet, no one seems to be paying attention to it. This road could help reduce travel time, but the authorities haven’t acted on it.
Who Raised the Issue
This issue came to light after Bengaluru-based cardiologist Dr. Deepak Krishnamurthy tweeted about the condition of the road. Known for raising civic issues on social media, he posted that the Budigere Cross route, though time-saving, is in terrible condition, and no one seems interested in fixing it.
“The road to Kempegowda International Airport from Whitefield/Old Madras Road through Budigere just takes an hour. But the condition of the road is so terrible, and no one seems interested in fixing it,” he wrote.
Why This Route Matters
Thousands of people from Whitefield, KR Puram, and Hoskote use this stretch every day. Compared to the usual Hebbal route, which can take up to three hours during peak hours, this road helps commuters reach the airport in nearly one-third of the time. But instead of being used properly, the road is still in bad shape, with poor lighting and an uneven surface.
What Are the Concerns
People travelling on this road have raised multiple concerns:
There’s barely any lighting, especially at night
There has been no maintenance for a long time
Despite saving so much travel time, the condition of the road has made commuting on it both risky and uncomfortable.
Public Response
After Dr. Krishnamurthy’s tweet, former Infosys CFO Mohandas Pai also pointed it out and tagged Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar and civic activist RK Misra, urging them to take action. After that, many others also joined the conversation and shared their views.
Some people also pointed out that the reason Budigere Road is being ignored might be because there’s no toll gate on it. While a few believe that if there’s no money to be made, it won’t be maintained, others said, even if you have to make it a toll road, do it, but at least fix it first.
One user wrote:
“Unless a toll gate is installed to charge every vehicle, this road will never be improved. Don’t expect even the village panchayat to take the initiative.”
Another said:
“I’m baffled why the government is not taking this seriously. Make it a toll road if needed, but fix it. This has become the go-to route for airport cabs from Whitefield.”
Even though the authorities haven’t responded yet, this one tweet has brought attention to a problem people have been dealing with for a long time.
(Input From Various Sources)
(Rehash/Pooja Bansal/MSM)