1 hr ago
Bengaluru Airport Trip Rekindles Debate Over City Traffic
Nihal Shetty said he drove 35 km to the airport in Bengaluru early in the morning.
He left at 6:10 am for a flight scheduled at 8:10 am.
He said he arrived with enough time to eat breakfast.
Shetty argued that traffic is a problem in many Indian cities, but Bengaluru gets especially much criticism.
Some people agreed with him.
Others said 6 am is too early to show what traffic is like during rush hour.
One commenter described a much slower trip to the airport in the evening.
Other users also pointed to road conditions and difficult-to-predict journeys.
The discussion shows that travel times can differ depending on when and where people travel.
Bengaluru resident Nihal Shetty said he left at 6:10 am for an 8:10 am flight and reached the airport with time for breakfast.
The trip covered 35 km; a report described it as taking under an hour.
Shetty argued that peak-hour traffic affects cities across India and that Bengaluru is singled out for criticism.
Some users said a 6 am journey does not reflect peak-hour conditions, which they said begin around 8 or 9 am.
Other commenters cited unpredictable travel times, potholes, poor roads, speed breakers and driving habits as commuting problems.
- Who
- Nihal Shetty, a Bengaluru resident, and social media users who responded to his post.
- What
- Shetty's account of an early-morning airport trip prompted debate over Bengaluru's traffic and its reputation.
- Where
- Bengaluru, India, on a journey to Kempegowda International Airport.
- When
- Shetty posted on X on October 10, 2026; the report was published October 11, 2026.
- Why
- Shetty argued that traffic affects many Indian cities and that Bengaluru is disproportionately criticized; users disputed whether his early trip represented typical traffic.
Bengaluru Is Singled Out
The Trip Doesn't Reflect Daily Traffic
What the early-morning journey shows
Bengaluru Is Singled Out
Shetty said he completed the 35 km airport trip comfortably and argued that traffic congestion affects cities across India, while Bengaluru is often made the focus of complaints.
The Trip Doesn't Reflect Daily Traffic
Critics said a 6:10 am departure is before the morning rush and therefore does not demonstrate typical peak-hour conditions.
Sources of commuting difficulty
Bengaluru Is Singled Out
Shetty's argument focused on traffic congestion being a problem in many Indian cities, not only Bengaluru.
The Trip Doesn't Reflect Daily Traffic
Other users said Bengaluru's travel difficulties also involve poor roads, potholes, speed breakers, driving habits and unpredictable journey times.
Key facts
- Person
- Nihal Shetty, a Bengaluru resident
- Departure
- 6:10 am
- Flight time
- 8:10 am
- Distance
- 35 km
- Trip duration
- The report's headline and quick answers describe the trip as under an hour.
- Post date
- October 10, 2026
- Contrasting account
- One commenter said a trip from HSR Layout starting at 8:30 pm reached the airport at 12:30 am for a 2 am flight.
Quotes
Nihal Shetty
Bengaluru resident whose X post about reaching the airport prompted the traffic debate.
“Bengaluru is unnecessarily infamous for peak hour traffic.I left home at 6:10AM for a 8:10AM flight and I made it the airport comfortably in time and also got time for breakfast. 35 kms ftw. I think peak hour traffic is a problem in every city in India and Bengaluru is just the poster child for everyone who wants to vent.”
news18.com
NDTV
“Try catching a flight at 8.10 pm on a weekday.”
NDTV
Sources
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