Bengaluru's infrastructure woes have once again taken center stage, with prominent industry figures like Mohandas Pai and Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw calling for urgent government intervention. Their concerns follow the recent announcement by logistics tech company BlackBuck that it's relocating from the city's Outer Ring Road (ORR), citing unbearable infrastructure challenges. This decision has sparked widespread debate about the deteriorating civic conditions in India's Silicon Valley and the potential impact on businesses.
Mohandas Pai, former CFO of Infosys, didn't mince words, calling the situation a "big big failure of governance". In a post on X (formerly Twitter), he tagged Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, urging him to intervene, stating that the situation was "beyond hope" and that companies are moving out of the ORR. Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, Biocon founder, echoed Pai's sentiments, calling for "emergency measures" to fix the issues.
The Outer Ring Road (ORR), once the shining example of Bengaluru's tech prowess, has become symbolic of both the city's promise and its problems. Despite generating a significant share of Karnataka's GDP, the region suffers from gridlocked roads, inadequate drainage, and frequent civic breakdowns. For over a decade, the ORR has been the subject of ridicule among those familiar with the city's crumbling infrastructure. The crumbling infrastructure is not just an inconvenience; it's impacting productivity and business opportunities. Executives are increasingly concerned about lost productivity and missed business opportunities due to the city's traffic congestion, which was the third worst globally in 2024.
Rajesh Yabaji, co-founder and CEO of BlackBuck, highlighted the difficulties faced by employees, noting that the average commute for his colleagues has shot up to 1.5+ hours (one way). He also lamented the roads full of potholes and dust, coupled with the lack of intent to rectify them, stating that he doesn't foresee any change in the next five years.
In response to the growing criticism, Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, who also holds the Bengaluru Development portfolio, has assured that contractors have been given a final deadline of November to fill the city's potholes. He stated that the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) will provide relief from potholes as soon as possible, as a clean Bengaluru and smooth traffic are the goals. Additionally, black topping of 182 roads, covering 349 km, has been ordered at a cost of ₹694 crore. Instructions have been issued to ensure that water does not stagnate and no potholes remain after asphalting on roads where work is in progress. Shivakumar has also stated that the government has provided ₹125 crore for all five newly carved-out corporations under GBA to "strengthen urban development".
However, skepticism remains whether these measures will be enough to address the deep-rooted issues plaguing Bengaluru's infrastructure. The city's infrastructure woes have been a long-standing problem, with issues such as potholes resurfacing quickly, especially during rain, making roads unsafe. Poor lighting and faded markers also make potholes hard to spot at night, increasing the chances of accidents. The lack of proper planning and widespread corruption have also been cited as factors hindering progress.
Industry bodies have termed BlackBuck's decision to move out of ORR as a serious wake-up call for the government. They have urged the government to improve infrastructure and Metro connectivity, emphasizing that Bengaluru's reputation as India's tech capital rests on infrastructure and ease of doing business. The Federation of Karnataka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FKCCI) President, Balakrishna M. G., stated that the government must act fast to fill potholes, build infrastructure, and redeem Bengaluru's sagging global image.
