Bengaluru, Aug. 18 -- What was meant to be a celebratory moment for Bengaluru's traffic-weary commuters has turned into a flashpoint of frustration and criticism. The inauguration of the new Hebbal flyover loop by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Monday morning has drawn sharp backlash from residents, commuters and politicians alike - many accusing the state government of poor planning and disregard for public convenience.

Held during peak office hours on the first working day after a long weekend, the ceremonial event led to massive traffic jams stretching over several kilometres.

BJP MP Tejasvi Surya, who was caught in the gridlock, posted on X, "Hebbal Road was a nightmare this morning. On my way...