The Karnataka government has unveiled an ambitious 90-day action plan as part of Mission ‘Free Traffic-2026’ to ease Bengaluru’s chronic traffic congestion, upgrade roads, and integrate public transport through a single city-wide mobility card by March 2026.
Spearheaded by Chief Secretary Shalini Rajneesh and involving senior officials, urban experts, and civic bodies, the plan promises visible improvements in traffic flow, road repairs, waste management, and commuter convenience with a phased approach beginning immediately, as reported by Moneycontrol.
This mission aims to combine infrastructure development, technological innovation, and public participation to enhance Bengaluru’s urban mobility ecosystem.
According to Moneycontrol, citizens of Bengaluru will soon be able to travel across multiple modes of public transport using a single card and conveniently track their journeys through an integrated mobile app.
The 90-Day Roadmap: Clear Milestones and Immediate Actions
The first month focuses on repairing and resurfacing 1,600 km of Bengaluru’s roads, including filling potholes, asphalting, and white topping, to ensure motorable conditions on all major routes. During the second month, a public awareness campaign titled “My Road, My Responsibility” will rally citizen participation in maintaining road conditions and reporting violations. The third month will encourage private sector involvement in civic upkeep to incentivize timely maintenance and cleanliness.
Additionally, 174 ongoing roadworks will be expedited through an e-Governance Contract Management System with live dashboards to monitor progress and quality. To ease parking woes, over 1,194 km of city roads will become no-parking zones, supported by alternative parking spaces managed by tenders and 14 towing vehicles deployed by municipal corporations.
Senior officials including Additional Chief Secretary (Urban Development) Tushar Girinath, GBA Commissioner Maheshwar Rao, Biocon founder Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, civic activist RK Misra, along with representatives from various agencies, were present at the meeting.
Following the discussions, Mazumdar-Shaw shared on X that the meeting resulted in a “time-bound roadmap for roads, garbage, and debris management,” with active participation and commitment from all key stakeholders involved.
Construction of 78 skywalks and pedestrian-friendly footpaths across Bengaluru is also underway, promoting safer walking environments under public-private partnerships.
Integrated Public Transport and Technological Interventions
A centerpiece of the mission is the ‘One City-One Card’ initiative, integrating ticketing across BMTC buses, Bangalore Metro, and app-based auto-rickshaw services, to enable hassle-free, cashless travel. The plan will harness real-time data sharing among transport providers and offer an integrated mobile app for journey planning and tracking.
To alleviate Outer Ring Road (ORR) congestion, an expert committee is preparing a Detailed Project Report, including proposals for congestion pricing via FASTag, carpooling promotion, and faster roadwork completion. Officials also plan to connect IT parks better with small bus services and explore infrastructure innovations like a double-decker road at Varthur flyover to improve traffic distribution.
Tackling Bengaluru’s Persistent Traffic Crisis
Bengaluru suffers severe traffic congestion, with an estimated 250 hours lost per commuter annually in jams, worsened by rapid urbanisation and a vehicle population exceeding 1.2 crore, predominantly two-wheelers. Past infrastructure efforts delivered limited long-term relief due to poor last-mile connectivity and fragmented transport systems.
Mission Free Traffic-2026 aims to create an inclusive, accountable framework focusing on citizens’ convenience, timely road maintenance, and technology-assisted management of traffic and waste. Cooperation between state departments, civic authorities, private companies, and the public is integral to the plan’s success.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
Mission Free Traffic-2026 sends a hopeful signal for Bengaluru’s much-needed urban revival, combining infrastructure, innovation, and community engagement.
Yet, real progress demands sustained political will, transparent monitoring, and an empowered citizenry fostering shared responsibility. Prioritising equitable access and environmental sustainability across all interventions will define the mission’s legacy.
Attended a comprehensive meeting held by CS @shalinirajnish to discuss city infra improvement. We now have a time bound roadmap for roads garbage n debris management. @GBAChiefComm @rk_misra @nnarasimhan ELCITA n all agencies were present 🤞 pic.twitter.com/1cHNtetyJV
— Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw (@kiranshaw) September 24, 2025
