IRR Street: Standstill to Active
A comprehensive and collaborative approach to Sustainable Mobility
WHY IRR AND WHAT DID WE TRY TO ACHIEVE?
The Inner Ring Road (IRR) connects Indiranagar and Koramangala in Bengaluru, serving as a vital link for commuters, businesses, and residents. The IRR suffers severe traffic congestion, obstructed walkways, missing crossings, multiple road crashes and inadequacy in bus frequencies leading to overcrowding. The Indiranagar Metro Station has the second highest footfall in Bengaluru, after Majestic.
Aim: In June 2023, we envisioned improving the accessibility and reliability of buses, walkability, and road safety along 7.5 km of the IRR — from Indiranagar KFC Junction to Madiwala Masjid in Koramangala — to create a safer, more efficient, and vibrant street for all.
Approach: After extensive audits and data analysis, we shared data-backed recommendations with the concerned government departments—namely, the Bengaluru Traffic Police (BTP), BMTC, BBMP, and BSWML—and worked with them to implement on-ground changes. The project is complex due to its comprehensive scope, involvement of multiple stakeholders, and the need for various government permissions.
IRR Summary Report
IRR Detailed Report
WHAT DID WE ACHIEVE TOGETHER?
Buses and Bus stops Conditions
Our recommendations: The MF5 route (from SMVT Railway Station to Silk Board) requires 30 buses/schedules with efficient trip planning to achieve a 5-minute frequency. Of the 27 bus waiting shelters audited, 8 require major upgrades, 8 are completely missing, and all 27 lack lighting and CCTV cameras.
Impact Status: BMTC has increased the MF5 fleet from 17 buses and 169 trips per day in November 2023 to 26 buses and 227 trips per day currently. A temporary walkway and lighting to the Ejipura Bus Stop (towards Indiranagar) from Ejipura Signal were implemented at our insistence to ensure safe accessibility. The installation of missing bus shelters is still pending.
Fatal Crashes due to Overspeeding
Our recommendations: 19 Drawings of road markings & traffic calming interventions provided for junctions and blackspots on IRR. From January to September 2024, 16 accidents were recorded at blackspots identified by BTP, with 5 fatalities. In 2023, 4 fatal accidents occurred at these same spots due to overspeeding.
Impact Status: Due to our persistent efforts and the support of BTP and BBMP, 10 rumble strips, 2 zebra crossings, 2 raised pedestrian crossings, and 2 speed humps with corresponding signage were executed by BBMP TEC, significantly improving conditions at 5 blackspots along the IRR. Following these interventions, from November 2024 to January 2025, there have been zero fatalities and only one non-fatal road crash.
Obstacle course or street?
Our recommendations: Removal of construction debris, garbage, vehicles parking, and shop standees blocking footpaths and forcing pedestrians onto roads.
To improve safety and accessibility at Domlur flyover, we have proposed 6 interventions that will help utilise existing pedestrian infrastructure along the flyover and create new ones for safe pedestrian access.
Impact Status:4325 tonnes of debris & soil, 130 construction barricades and 129 tonnes of garbage cleared from footpaths and medians during October 2024 to January 2025 and April 2025, by BBMP Project Central, BBMP SWM, BSWML, Marshals and Ejipura flyover contractor.
The 6 interventions at Domlur Flyover were agreed upon at site by both Bengaluru Traffic Police (BTP) and BBMP Traffic Engineering Cell (TEC) East in a joint site inspection organized by B.PAC. Permission letters from BTP have been sent to BBMP approving the interventions and requesting its execution. The executing is pending.
Street Lighting
Our recommendations: More than 50% of IRR don’t have street light poles or electrical connection for it. There is potential for more than half of the existing streetlights on the 7.5 km stretch of IRR to light up.
Impact Status: 45+ Streetlights added, replaced & electrified by BBMP Electrical and Project Central.
Drainage Problems
Our recommendations: Shoulder drains with kerb inlets to be constructed at every 5-7 meters, instead of 30-meter intervals being executed on site, especially at flood-prone zones. The inlets were missing altogether earlier in most of the Koramangala side or otherwise clogged with garbage and silt. Open drains are being responsibly closed before laborers leave the site, with warning tapes and lighting installed for safety.
Impact Status: BBMP notices have gone with recommended shoulder drain intervals.
Closing of some open drains: SWD Pipe and trench laying near Ejipura signal awaits completion at the defence side towards Indiranagar. The stretch has been entirely dug up for months without much progress.
Our efforts continue and we value your support.
Thank you.
