ORR bus breakdown congestion is not a one-off; EV safety brakes pose a fresh traffic hurdle in Bengaluru

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A SWITCH electrical  vehicle, which broke down   adjacent   Sanjaynagar successful  North Bengaluru connected  Wednesday, brought postulation   to a standstill for astir   an hour.

A SWITCH electrical vehicle, which broke down adjacent Sanjaynagar successful North Bengaluru connected Wednesday, brought postulation to a standstill for astir an hour. | Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

The BMTC autobus breakdown connected the Outer Ring Road (ORR) connected Tuesday, which near hundreds of commuters stranded successful a gridlock, taking much than 2 hours to screen a specified 6 km stretch, is not a one-off. According to Bengaluru Traffic Police (BTP) officials, the apical information brake systems of dense electrical vehicles (EVs), specified arsenic buses and trucks, are adding to Bengaluru’s infamous postulation problem.

Officials accidental aerial brake-related breakdowns person go a recurring occupation successful the city, posing a changeless situation for postulation management. For instance, a SWITCH electrical conveyance broke down adjacent Sanjaynagar successful North Bengaluru again connected Wednesday, bringing postulation to a standstill for astir an hour.

Most BMTC electrical buses operating successful the metropolis are equipped with aerial brake systems, which trust connected a continuous proviso of aerial pressure. In the lawsuit of a large aerial leak, the driblet successful unit automatically applies the brakes and locks the wheels to guarantee rider safety, a spokesperson from an EV institution explained.

While for the ORR incident, a institution spokesperson claimed that their tract officers reached the tract promptly and resolved the issue.

“When the wheels lock, the brakes cannot beryllium released until a technician trained to grip aerial leaks arrives on-site and unlocks them. These technicians, who enactment arsenic tract operators for the autobus companies, often instrumentality clip to scope the breakdown location. This hold means buses often stay stationary for hours, starring to prolonged congestion,” a elder constabulary serviceman from the Northeast subdivision explained.

Under mean circumstances, constabulary tin tow stalled buses to wide astatine slightest portion of the roadworthy and let postulation movement. However, successful cases wherever the wheels are locked, towing attempts fail, arsenic the autobus remains immobile contempt efforts.

A elder serviceman from the West part added that specified breakdowns are peculiarly problematic connected constrictive roads and successful areas with mediocre connecting routes, wherever diverting postulation is astir impossible. “On Tuesday, the operation of constrictive lanes and constricted connecting roads amplified the congestion,” helium noted.

Challenges

According to the spokesperson, ongoing infrastructure projects person near galore stretches littered with nails, stones, and different crisp objects, which often deed and harm the brake strategy and origin leaks. “Technicians indispensable place the leak and hole it utilizing connectors oregon different methods, which tin instrumentality 30–40 minutes,” helium said.

Police explained that technicians typically instrumentality 20–40 minutes to scope the site, and repairing the leak tin instrumentality different 30–40 minutes oregon more, extending the full hold to 70–80 minutes and worsening postulation congestion.

“There is simply a screw successful the brake strategy that tin beryllium loosened to merchandise the built-up air, which yet unlocks the wheels. This method was utilized connected the ORR to relieve traffic,” said the officer.

According to sources, postulation constabulary person been trained successful this method and person successfully applied it successful immoderate situations. However, officers are often reluctant to effort it themselves owed to the hazard of mishaps, preferring to hold for the institution technicians to arrive.

Published - October 15, 2025 10:26 p.m. IST

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