Bengaluru Schools May Start Early: Parents Ask If Children Should Pay For Traffic Woes

Bengaluru

oi-Madhuri Adnal

Updated: Sunday, September 20, 2026, 13:50 [IST]

Bengaluru schools could start 30 minutes to an hour earlier as the government explores ways to ease traffic congestion during peak hours. However, there is no final decision yet, and schools will continue to follow their existing timings for now.

However, the idea of starting schools early itself has faced resistance from some Bengaluru residents, sparking a debate among parents over whether the move can actually ease the city’s traffic woes.

Parents divided over earlier school timings

Speaking to OneIndia, Prakash, a parent of an eight-year-old student, said he would not support changing the existing school timings. “No, I don’t want to change anything. Maybe 10 am would be fine,” he said.

Another parent raised concerns about the impact on both children and working parents. “No, it makes it difficult for parents and children. They will not get up early, and we can’t prepare food,” the parent said.

However, there were also responses supporting the proposal, with one respondent saying an earlier start “will” help.

A poll on social media also drew mixed reactions to the proposal. Among those who participated, 42% said starting schools earlier would be a “Good move”, making it the largest response in the poll.

However, 25% called it a ‘Bad idea’, while 17% said the move would make ‘No difference’ to Bengaluru’s traffic situation.

Another 17% said ‘Need a better plan’, suggesting that changing school timings alone may not be enough to address the city’s traffic congestion. The responses show that while some support earlier school timings, others feel the city needs more comprehensive measures to tackle traffic.

But the debate did not stop there. Several users questioned whether children should have to wake up earlier to address Bengaluru’s traffic problems, particularly when many schools already begin classes around 8 am or 8.30 am.

“Schools are already starting at 8/8:30. Do you want the kids to wake up at 5/6 am to start school?” one user asked.

Another user questioned whether children should bear the burden of solving a traffic problem, pointing out that children need adequate rest.

Some users said changing school timings would not address the larger infrastructure and traffic management issues facing Bengaluru.

One respondent called for better roads, proper footpaths, foot overbridges, stricter enforcement of traffic rules and faster expansion of public transport, including Metro and local train services.

Another suggested that any change in school timings could initially be considered only for schools located in highly congested areas and the central business district.

The user also raised concerns about the distance children travel to school, suggesting that schools should ideally be available within neighbourhoods and that long daily commutes could be reduced.

School traffic also a concern

Some respondents said the traffic around schools itself contributes to congestion.

One user suggested that traffic could improve if parents avoided stopping vehicles haphazardly near school gates and buses. The respondent also called for school buses to follow traffic rules.

There were also concerns over whether a school start time of around 7 am would be practical for families, particularly for parents who have to prepare children and manage their morning routines.

The reactions therefore focused not only on school timings but also on children’s sleep, long school commutes, school-zone traffic and Bengaluru’s wider infrastructure and public transport problems.

The proposed change has therefore raised a larger question: whether shifting school timings by 30 minutes to an hour would meaningfully reduce peak-hour congestion or simply move the pressure to an earlier part of the morning.

For now, the proposal remains under consideration, and there is no final decision to change school timings. Existing timings remain unchanged.