Rewind 2025: Bengaluru’s infra takes baby steps but is citizen activism losing its voice?

When Rajesh Yabaji, CEO of Bengaluru-based logistics unicorn BlackBuck, flagged the crumbling Outer Ring Road (ORR) in September 2025 - saying it had forced him to shift his office to another part of the city - it triggered widespread outrage and appeared to jolt the Karnataka administration into action.

The post on X platform surprised many. Despite building digital infrastructure for the world, Bengaluru’s startup and business leaders have largely stayed silent on the city’s civic and physical infrastructure woes.

Also, read: BlackBuck CEO’s post on Bengaluru’s crumbling Outer Ring Road jolts Karnataka into action

Mohandas Pai, former CFO of Infosys, believes this marks a generational shift. "We, including NR Narayana Murthy, Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw and others, protested on civic issues such as Electronics City flyover because leaders like SM Krishna (Karnataka CM from 1999 to 2004) listened to us," he said.

"We weren’t scared like many current industrialists because we were born and raised here and had roots in Bengaluru. Today, many entrepreneurs come from outside, build businesses, and stay silent, fearing political backlash. The culture where industry spoke up and governments listened is slowly disappearing," Pai told Moneycontrol.

In 2025, Bengaluru's civic governance underwent a major shift with Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) being replaced by Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA). However, even as the city’s administrative structure was overhauled, Bengaluru - long known for its strong culture of civic activism - appears to be losing some of its sheen.

Also read: From BBMP to GBA: Will it make Bengaluru great again?

Following the formation of the GBA and the creation of five city corporations, some residents say there have been early signs of improvement. Commissioners have become more visible on the ground, conducting inspections and responding to complaints. Nearly 30,000 potholes were filled after the civic body came under sharp criticism over the poor condition of roads, though many argue that significant challenges remain and that much more needs to be done.

From mass protests to muted resistance

The last major city-wide major protest Bengaluru witnessed was in October 2016, when more than 5,000 citizens formed a human chain opposing the proposed steel flyover on Ballari Road. Sustained opposition eventually forced the state government to scrap the project.

Also, read: Bengaluru tunnel road: Govt expert panel flags DPR flaws, warns of cost escalation, Metro overlap

Ironically, nearly a decade later, Karnataka deputy CM DK Shivakumar- who also holds the Bengaluru development portfolio- has been openly critical of that decision. "Siddaramaiah and KJ George (the then Bengaluru development minister) got scared. If I were in their position, I would not have budged," he said recently, adding that “no one-except God-can stop me” from executing the tunnel road project.

Yet, despite strong opposition to the proposed tunnel roads cutting through the city-which threaten hundreds of trees and green spaces such as Lalbagh, and propose a toll of around Rs 330 for a one-way car trip (Rs 19 per km)- Bengaluru has struggled to mobilise on the streets the way it once did.

Also, read: Bengaluru civic body under lens for alleged ‘copy-paste job’ in Rs 9.5 crore tunnel road DPR prepared by consultant

Shivakumar himself said that nobody can blackmail or threaten the government, citing BlackBuck’s decision to relocate its office over poor road conditions on ORR, and also during a recent interaction with apartment owners after a citizen questioned the delay in introducing Karnataka Apartment (Ownership and Management) Bill, 2025.

Activists cite multiple reasons. Post-Covid, there is visible reluctance to participate in physical protests and meetings, with outrage increasingly confined to social media. Compounding this is the Licensing and Regulation of Protests, Demonstrations and Protest Marches (Bengaluru City) Order, notified in January 2022, which restricts protests to Freedom Park.

“For many people, reaching Freedom Park amid traffic and work schedules is impractical,” an activist said. “It weakens mass mobilisation. If there are five city corporations, there should be at least five protest venues. Why should residents in the north have to travel all the way to Freedom Park in central Bengaluru to protest over their civic issues?” he said.

Activism hasn’t vanished-it has changed

Not everyone agrees that citizen activism is in decline. A long-time civic activist, argues that engagement has shifted from street protests to institutional participation. "Civil society in Bengaluru is stronger than ever, with deep local engagement," he said. “Once ward committees are formed under the new law-with members selected through a lottery instead of nominations, then we will see more genuine representation and structured participation.”

Another activist, who did not wish to be named, said earlier movements thrived because of urgency, leadership and visible outcomes. "Groups like Citizens for Bengaluru had no office, no bank account and no hierarchy-that made them feel genuine," said an activist, who has been involved in several public campaigns. "But over time, personal commitments took over and the momentum faded. Citizen activism hasn’t disappeared but it has changed. People now prefer ward-level engagement or going to court instead of protesting."

"Statesmanlike politicians are becoming rare, while many citizens avoid confronting power due to fear of FIRs and other consequences. Economic struggles after Covid and AI-led layoffs have added to this, and few Indian companies encourage civic participation. As a result, nobody can risk their jobs or an FIR that may affect prospects of migrating abroad," he added.

Vinay Srinivasa, a city-based advocate and member of Alternative Law Forum, said: "There are too many issues, with Centre introducing new unconstitutional laws and taking objectionable stances, leaving us unable to focus on urban development issues. Many activists are stretched thin as they are forced to take up multiple issues at the same time, including caste and communal tensions, hate crimes, etc. Restrictions on protests and threat of FIRs have had a chilling effect, prompting some people to prefer legal challenges over street protests."

Committees to pacify?

Following criticism from industrialists over poor city's infrastructure, Shivakumar met several business leaders, including Pai and Mazumdar-Shaw, in October. Shivakumar later said he had urged them not to 'tarnish Bengaluru’s image' internationally, while assuring them their suggestions would be considered. "They have given good inputs. We have included them in advisory committees," he said.

Also, read: After Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw criticises city’s infra, DK Shivakumar says, 'Instead of tearing Bengaluru down, let’s build it up'

Since then, the intensity of public criticism from industry leaders has noticeably reduced. Pai, however, denied that his criticism had softened. "For over a decade, I’ve spoken with data about governments of all hues," Pai said. "If a government does good work, we praise it. If it doesn’t, we criticise it. We don’t fear the government, and we don’t oppose for ideology’s sake."

A similar pattern played out politically. When Bengaluru South MP Tejasvi Surya questioned the prioritisation of tunnel roads over public transport, Shivakumar dismissed his objections, saying only senior BJP leaders understood such projects.

Shivakumar later offered to form a committee under opposition leader R Ashok’s leadership to review tunnel road project. Following this, the BJP’s protests appear to have softened. Soon after, Adani Group emerged as the lowest bidder for both packages of the 16.75-km north-south underground tunnel corridor.

Infrastructure: Steps forward, many still waiting

On the city's infrastructure front, the biggest milestone of 2025 was the launch of Namma Metro’s Yellow Line (Reach 5, Phase II)- 19-km Electronics City corridor-in August. Initially operating with just three trains and a 25-minute frequency due to a rolling stock shortage, services improved to a 13-minute frequency by year-end with six trains.

Smaller reliefs included opening of two loops of Hebbal flyover, Hosakerehalli flyover near PES College, and the appointment of a full-time managing director for the long-delayed suburban rail project.

Also, read: Bengaluru’s Metro network will reach 175 km by 2027 & 225 km by 2030, says BMRCL MD

However, major gaps remain. Civil works tenders for Metro Phase 3-JP Nagar 4th Phase-Kempapura stretch along ORR West (32.1 km) and Hosahalli-Kadabagere line along Magadi Road (12.5 km), together spanning 44.6 km-are yet to be floated, despite Union Cabinet approving Rs 15,611-crore project in August 2024. The Ejipura flyover remains stuck, and long-awaited civic elections are still pending. The last BBMP (Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike) elections were held in 2015, and the council’s term ended in September 2020.

Also, read: Just like RCB finally beat the memes to win IPL, Ejipura flyover on track for completion in 2026, says Bengaluru civic chief

In 2026, citizens are looking forward to the opening of Pink Line Metro (Kalena Agrahara-Nagawara), Phase 2A of Blue Line connecting Central Silk Board to KR Pura, start of civil works for Metro Phase 3, opening of 1.5 km link road connecting Deepanjali Nagar Junction to NICE Road cloverleaf near PES College, resumption of construction of two suburban rail corridors-24.8-km Mallige Line (Byappanahalli-Chikkabanavara) and 46.2-km Kanaka Line (Heelalige-Rajanakunte).

Residents are also awaiting civil work tenders for the remaining two suburban rail corridors, Central government approval for Metro Phase 3A (Hebbal-Sarjapur), induction of 4,500 electric buses under PM e-Drive scheme, pothole-free roads, encroachment-free pavements, better garbage clearance and street lighting, and transport reforms such as allowing bike taxis and shared autos.

Also, read: Bengaluru Metro's Pink Line to start with 5 'driverless' trains by June

A generational question

Pai believes the real challenge lies ahead. “Many young people are scared to call out,” he said. “We need leaders in their 30s and 40s who care about this city for the next 25-30 years. Leaders should spend at least 10 percent of their time on community affairs and it’s their responsibility.”

He credits media scrutiny and social media for forcing change after the ORR controversy. “Bengaluru’s global image took a hit, and that forced action. Roads are improving because citizens spoke up,” Pai said.

“Replacing BBMP with GBA was a good decision. With committed officers, active media and citizens armed with smartphones, transparency has increased. Nobody can hide anymore. That is democracy.” he said.

Also, read: 'Brand Bengaluru' caught between DK Shivakumar’s vanity projects and city's crumbling infra