From criticism to praise: Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw applauds DK Shivakumar for tackling Bengaluru’s garbage mess

Biocon founder Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw and Karnataka deputy CM DK Shivakumar at his residence in Bengaluru.

Biocon chief Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, in a post on X, lauded Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar for what she called “visible change” in Bengaluru’s footpaths and roads, a notable shift weeks after she publicly criticised the city’s crumbling infrastructure.

In a post on X, Shaw said the city was “finally seeing visible change in cleaner foot paths n asphalted roads”, crediting Shivakumar’s leadership for “rescuing our city from collapsing under the weight of garbage debris n pot holes”. Her remark has sparked debate online, with many residents disagreeing that the improvements are citywide.

Her post read, “We are finally seeing visible change in cleaner foot paths n asphalted roads across the city. @DKShivakumar your leadership has been key in rescuing our city from collapsing under the weight of garbage debris n pot holes. Please continue to drive this important development.”

We are finally seeing visible change in cleaner foot paths n asphalted roads across the city. @DKShivakumar your leadership has been key in rescuing our city from collapsing under the weight of garbage debris n pot holes. Please continue to drive this important development.…

— Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw (@kiranshaw) November 14, 2025

Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw also praised the Greater Bengaluru Authority and urged continued civic responsibility. Her praise marks a turnaround from mid-October, when she shared comments from an overseas business visitor who questioned Bengaluru’s garbage piles and battered roads, asking why India “can’t get its act together” on basic infrastructure.

Mixed Reactions Online

Shaw’s endorsement drew divided responses. Several users posted images from areas such as HSR Layout and Whitefield, arguing that the improvements remain limited to selective stretches.

“Cleaner footpath? This is HSR… I must say there is some resemblance of footpath here which I can’t in most of the city,” one user wrote, sharing a photo.

Others said the progress amounted to mere “patchwork” after prolonged construction disruptions. “Ma’am, this is just patchwork after more than 1.5 years of dug-up roads… Please visit Whitefield,” another user commented.

Some argued that framing the effort as a “rescue” overlooks the government’s responsibility for the deterioration itself. “This is a fix, not a rescue,” one user wrote, adding that the failure of road and garbage management systems had created the crisis in the first place.