Bengaluru Hits Pause This Diwali: Empty Streets, Light Traffic, No Crowds; Netizens Can’t Stop Sharing

The beginning of the Diwali week celebration brought an unexpected calm to metro cities like Bengaluru. As thousands of corporate employees and others return to their hometowns, Bengaluru's notorious traffic jams have reduced by more than half. Empty roads and peaceful scenes, streets, shops and malls are offering a rare sight of the city.

The Karnataka capital, Bengaluru, and other metro cities like Mumbai, Delhi, Noida, etc have reportedly saw a drop in crowd on streets, metro trains, buses, etc, as people travelled for family celebrations.

Bengaluru Sees Low Traffic, Lesser Crowd

Several social media users have shared images of empty roads and less crowded public transport systems, just days ahead of Diwali celebrations. As per media reports, commuters in Bengaluru faced hours-long delays on the Outer Ring Road due to a bus breakdown, causing gridlocks over 12 km.

Travel advisories were issued for Hebbal, Mysuru Road, and Hosur Road due to expected heavy outbound traffic. Now, with most residents away, Bengaluru's roads are open and peaceful.

Social Media Reacts To Diwali Peace In Bengaluru

The sudden change in the Bengaluru vibes left many social media users sharing their experience of the sudden change.

A social media user captured the city's mood in post, "Bengaluru situation right now - Deepavali guys stayed, Diwali guys left. Khali khali roads are bliss." Users also noted that other major cities like Delhi and Mumbai appeared quieter as people travelled for family celebrations.

"Why does Bengaluru seem empty these days? : Because, Deepavali guys stayed , Diwali guys left," commented another user.

While, many social media users shared images of huge traffic jam during the weekend as thousands of people rushed to travel back to their home towns and meet their family members for Diwali celebrations.

"The famous Diwali migration to home being witnessed at 6:00 a.m. in Bengaluru. The road leading to the Hosur Road is jam-packed at this hour with people happily going to their homes for Diwali. Happy Diwali," noted another X user in a post shared on Saturday.

The current scenario is a stark contrast to the usual chaos. The roads are free from long queues and honking, making commutes breezy and stress-free. For those spending Diwali in the city, this silence offers a refreshing change from the typical hustle and bustle.
Karnataka capital, Bengaluru, is at the centre of India's IT revolution as it is home to a number of multi national companies (MNCs) and IT giants' headquarters.

The city has also become a hub of startup founders. Meanwhile, the city often finds itself at the centre of an age-old debate of 'Natives vs Outsiders' and 'Kannadigas vs Non Kannada speakers'.