Even god can't transform Bengaluru traffic overnight: DK Shivakumar

Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar latest statement on the Bengaluru traffic has sparked row on social media. Speaking at the launch of Namma Raste on Thursday, the minister asserted that even God would not be able to transform Bengaluru overnight. Shivakumar also emphasised the need for long-term, well-planned urban development to ensure the city’s sustainability.

“It is impossible to change Bengaluru overnight. Even if God himself descended, it wouldn’t be possible. However, if we draft proper plans and implement them effectively, transformation is achievable,” Shivakumar said.

Speaking on the Bengaluru traffic situation, the deputy CM said, “The city's population has touched 1.4 crore and the number of vehicles registered has also increased to 1.1 crore. I've been talking about tunnel roads from the beginning, but we're yet to call tenders. There are a lot of technical issues, land acquisition challenges and financial issues, among other things."

Shivakumar also spoke about the projects that the state government is currently working on to improve the situation. “The govt has decided to focus on improving existing roads by standardising road designs, quality of work and maintenance. We have to plan properly and execute projects effectively," he said.

Shivakumar assured that major projects like tunnel roads and elevated corridors would bring relief once completed. However, delays due to financial, technical, and land acquisition challenges have slowed progress.

"The tunnel road work should have started already, but we are facing hurdles. The 40-km double-decker road project is ready, and several other initiatives will take shape in the coming years. Additionally, 1,700 km of roads are being white-topped," he said.

Taking to X (formerly Twitter), Former Infosys CFO Mohandas Pai criticised the state government for announcing big projects but not able to do it on ground. “Very correct, but Minister @DKShivakumar, please tell us what actions you have taken apart from announcing big projects? You couldn’t even ensure the city stays clean,” Pai said.

Commuters in Bengaluru lose almost 117 hours per year due to huge traffic congestion, making it one of the most traffic-congested cities in the world, with the average time to travel 10km being around 34 minutes and 10 seconds during rush hour, as per the global traffic index for 2024 released by Tom Tom.