More on 'driving' in Namma Bengalru

Driving a car or just walking ought to be a pleasure and not a challenge. But not so in our dear city. Tension begins to build as you step out of your home. Your dear wife or an elder will either becalm your mind or increase your tension as they ask you to be careful and beware of lurking dangers.

I am reminded of scenes in a movie wherein the royal Queen does 'Arathi' seeking the blessing of their gods as her husband the King steps out to face an enemy in war. I am sure if it was part of our tradition, my dear wife would have done the same!

Driving in our 'bubble' does help us prepare to face the warlike situation that prevails outside. People do walk on our 'private' roads as  the suddenly pavement vanishes. Vehicles go more than double the 'optimistic' speed limit of 15 kph. Drivers turn right even if there is sign and a sentry cautioning us not to! The warlike situation, depending on the time, starts right at the ornate portal of our special 'city'.

This missing tile and the thoughtful warning provided
sums up the reality of our roads just at the portal of our city.

This is a fairly common sight on Thanisandra Main Road
The man standing was a good Samaritan who directed the traffic after a grid lock.
Police are invariably busy elsewhere!

Words fail me as I try to describe my experience driving in this once wonderful city. 

As I turn left I have learnt to expect a vehicle coming towards me even though it is one way. The

locals have converted this 4-lane road into two 2-lane roads running parallel. There is a service road on one side, which like river Saraswati has gone underground for some distance!

A little ahead is a circle, its purpose apparently was not for vehicles to go around it,

 but to install a statue of an important person from the past. It is a total free for all; cars, 2 wheelers

and pedestrians do their own thing. Their main aim is to fill the space in front of me from all directions and at varying speeds. We seem to hate empty space on our roads. Pedestrian just walk in front of the car, unaware of the blind corner created by the automobile designers. I cannot blame the pedestrians, the pavements are atrocious or non-existent. I usually inch forward, irritating those at the rear, who honk hard and continuously. I have learnt to ignore them.

 The best way to describe our traffic, it is a kind of moving jig saw puzzle, a game of nerves and insane bravado! Most drivers are like the matadors who let  an angered bull pass them within centimeters risking their lives. (Ours too!) We do see many battered cars on our roads, surprisingly not the big expensive ones. There must a special reason for this.

It is a different story as I get on to the Bellary road at Jakkur junction. I have not been able to figure this junction at all. This junction and the Bellary- Airport road are wonders of road design which define our brilliance. I believe a separate blog can only do justice to this road!

A service road and 3 lanes below the flyover  turn
into 1.5 lane side road on the left. 3 signals, a stop,
go straight and turn right, manages all these five lanes.
Our impatience and selfish driving creates a chaos.
There are other combinations of traffic flow from other directions.
All are equally confusing. I am sure there are better solutions possible.