Massive Traffic Jams Near Bengaluru's Phoenix Mall Of Asia Cause Commuter Distress

A chaotic scene unfolded on Sunday night near Bengaluru's Hebbal as massive traffic jams plagued commuters for hours. The cause? The newly inaugurated Phoenix Mall of Asia, featuring India's largest Christmas tree, attracted huge crowds, leading to gridlock that trapped commuters for over two hours.

The traffic bottleneck impacted travelers heading towards both the Mall of Asia and the Kempegowda International Airport, causing delays for numerous passengers en route to catch their flights.

Bengaluru Police continuously issued traffic advisories, cautioning people about the congestion near the mall. The initial advisory, released at 6 pm on Sunday, alerted, "Due to a significant influx of visitors at the Mall of Asia, traffic congestion is observed on the Bellary service road toward the Mall. Parking is at full capacity. Commuters/visitors are advised to plan their travel accordingly."

The situation worsened thereafter, prompting authorities to advise people to avoid the route. Another advisory read, "Due to the long weekend, Christmas festivities, and heavy traffic congestion at Mall of Asia & Byatarayanpura junction towards the airport, commuters/visitors are urged to plan their travel and use alternate routes."

The congestion also affected airport buses, stranding them for extensive periods. A frustrated individual shared a video, stating, "The airport bus has been stationary for an hour now. Several passengers have missed their flights due to the crowd at Mall of Asia in Yelahanka."

Reports emerged accusing the Mall of Asia of inadequate management of the traffic flow to its sprawling 13-acre premises. Furthermore, some alleged that the mall was charging ₹200 for pedestrian entry just to view the Christmas tree. One disgruntled user remarked, "Phoenix Mall of Asia. More like the phoenix madness of Asia. It took 45 minutes to cover 1KM, and 20 minutes just to find parking. ₹200 charged for pedestrian entry (just to enter the mall)."