Illegal parking at Bengaluru bus stops continues with over 23,000 cases booked in three years

Despite repeated crackdowns, illegal parking at Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) bus stops by autorickshaws, cabs, and private vehicles remains a persistent issue, causing traffic congestion and endangering commuters.

Despite repeated crackdowns, illegal parking at Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) bus stops by autorickshaws, cabs, and private vehicles remains a persistent issue, causing traffic congestion and endangering commuters.

According to data provided by the police, 8,870 cases were booked in 2022, 5,499 in 2023, and 8,811 in 2024 for such violations. However, the problem persists, as autorickshaws and cabs continue to encroach upon the bus stops, making it difficult for BMTC buses to halt at designated points.

Regular commuters say that the illegal occupation of bus stops forces BMTC buses to stop in the middle of the road, delaying traffic and creating safety hazards.

Sangeetha N., a regular BMTC commuter from BTM Layout, highlighted the extent of the problem: “We’ve been seeing this for years. It’s frustrating when the bus has to stop far from the designated spot because autos are blocking the way. Passengers are often left in the middle of the road trying to board the bus, which is inconvenient and dangerous.”

Prasanna M. Kumar, a senior citizen from J.P. Nagar, echoed similar concerns: “There are times when bus drivers simply skip stopping at the bus shelter because autos are parked right in front of it. Instead, they stop in the middle of the road, forcing passengers like me to dash through traffic to board. I’ve even seen bus drivers honking at the auto drivers to move, but it often escalates into heated argument. As a senior citizen, I find this situation incredibly difficult to board the bus safely.”

Many bus stops, among the 8,500 maintained by the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), remain encroached upon, leaving passengers stranded on busy roads.

During the recent Assembly session, Home Minister G. Parameshwara admitted that parking of non-BMTC buses at bus stops was leading to traffic jams and causing inconvenience to the public.