Hotmail co-founder and Indian-American entrepreneur Sabeer Bhatia has reignited Bengaluru’s long-running visitors debate with a blunt submit on X, calling town’s congestion “insane” and questioning how residents handle it day by day. The comment has sparked each help and backlash from locals, including to a rising refrain of frustration over town’s worsening gridlocks.
“I do know Bengaluru people might name this detrimental… however the visitors right here is INSANE. I trip the identical distance on my bicycle in 1/3 the time within the Bay Space. How do individuals tolerate this each day?” Sabeer Bhatia posted on X.
Bhatia’s remark drew speedy consideration on-line, with many netizens weighing in. Whereas some echoed his concern, others took subject with the comparability to U.S. cities.
One person pointedly requested, “Are you able to go on a motorbike to Oakland within the Bay Space after 5 PM? In Bengaluru, individuals can journey even to Mysuru at midnight and return safely. Attempt that in Oakland with out fearing on your life.”
Others took a extra systemic view, saying visitors woes are a part of a deeper governance failure. “There’s no use complaining. Our authorities can not resolve even essentially the most fundamental city points. For those who actually need to assist, begin creating corporations in smaller cities as a substitute of congesting the metros. That’s the actual method India can develop,” learn one other reply.
Some customers described how they’ve restructured their lives to deal with the day by day chaos. “We’ve simply tailored,” mentioned one resident. “I stay close to a metro station. My spouse’s workplace is a kilometre away. My child’s college is even nearer. I pay a premium for that location, but it surely’s value it.”
One other submit mirrored on how commuting circumstances have deteriorated post-pandemic: “Earlier than COVID, my workplace was a 20-minute stroll or a 10-15 minute bike trip. Even a cab would take nearly 20-40 minutes, relying on visitors. Now, it’s worse than ever.”
Bengaluru’s visitors snarls, particularly on key routes just like the Outer Ring Street, have change into an emblem of town’s rising infrastructure disaster. Regardless of being India’s tech capital, town’s fast city enlargement has outpaced its public transport and highway planning, making on a regular basis journey a check of endurance.
