Karnataka Home Minister Priyank Kharge said improving Bengaluru's traffic requires a combination of stricter rule enforcement and better civic sense from citizens.

The initiative comes as the city struggles with chronic congestion and road-safety issues. By emphasizing behavioral change alongside police action, the government aims to create a sustainable traffic-management action plan for the urban center.

Kharge visited the Bengaluru Traffic Management Centre on Friday to discuss specific strategies for managing the city's roads. During the visit, he said the necessity of a structured approach to enforcement would increase safety for all commuters.

"We need strict enforcement of traffic rules to make our roads safer," Kharge said.

However, the minister suggested that policing alone cannot solve the crisis. Speaking at the Moneycontrol Rising Bharat Summit South Edition, he said the root of the problem often lies with the commuters themselves.

"Improving Bengaluru's traffic requires more than stricter enforcement—it demands better civic sense from every citizen," Kharge said.

Despite his calls for order, Kharge has faced political backlash regarding his own record. On June 25, 2026 [1], the Karnataka BJP targeted the minister over alleged traffic violations linked to his vehicle.

"The minister himself is violating traffic rules; this is unacceptable," a Karnataka BJP spokesperson said.

The opposition's criticism highlights a tension between the government's push for public discipline and the expectations of accountability for high-ranking officials. While the Home Minister focuses on a dual approach of civic duty and law enforcement, the political friction suggests that the credibility of such campaigns depends on the conduct of those leading them.

“Improving Bengaluru's traffic requires more than stricter enforcement—it demands better civic sense from every citizen.”

The focus on 'civic sense' suggests the Karnataka government is shifting some responsibility for traffic congestion onto the public, acknowledging that infrastructure and policing are insufficient without cultural change. However, the BJP's use of alleged violations by Kharge's vehicle indicates that the opposition will likely use any perceived hypocrisy to undermine the legitimacy of new enforcement measures.