Bengaluru rains: Mohandas Pai says poor infra is making MNCs consider taking jobs to other cities

Mohandas Pai said that the Karnataka government must take urgent action to save the city and its jobs. (File photo)

Mohandas Pai on Monday slammed the Karnataka government for the poor condition of roads, drainage, and traffic on Bengaluru's Outer Ring Road (ORR) which is causing anger among multinational companies that have offices in the area. The former Infosys CFO said that if the government does not take steps to improve the conditions, these companies may consider opening offices in cities outside the state.

His comments came after several parts of the city were flooded following heavy rainfall. Bengaluru had faced a similar condition last week when rains led to waterlogged streets and traffic congestion that lasted for hours and brought the city to a standstill.

"Lack of action by Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah, [deputy chief minister] DK Shivakumar, and [IT-BT minister] Priyank Kharge on roads, drainage, and traffic on ORR is leading to huge anger and is forcing many MNCs to seriously consider expanding outside city. Promises made by CM, and DCM are repeatedly not upheld, trust down. This is very serious," he wrote on X.

"CM/DCM should take urgent action to save the city and jobs. Never seen this kind of anger and pain in the last 20 years. Very sad at the misgovernance of the city, false promises, and lack of action. Sad day for all of us to have such a non-performing, callous, indifferent govt which treats its own citizens so badly," he added tagging the government officials and Bengaluru-based business leaders such as Biocon founder and chairperson Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw and Infosys co-founder Kris Gopalakrishnan.

Several social media users agreed with Pai.

"Absolutely, the situation on the Outer Ring Road (ORR) is beyond frustrating—it's a daily nightmare for commuters and a stark symbol of governmental inaction. Here we are, in one of India's tech hubs, and the infrastructure is crumbling under our feet. Promises from chief minister Siddaramaiah, DK Shivakumar, and Priyank Kharge seem like distant echoes, fading away without any real action," commented X user Jambudvipa Dialogues (@JambudvipaD). "The lack of urgency in addressing basic issues like roads, drainage, and traffic is not just inconveniencing thousands but is actively pushing away the very businesses that fuel our city's economy. MNCs considering relocation isn't just news; it's a red alert for Bengaluru's future."

Sudarshan (@sudarshanindi) wrote, "Some MNCs should really shift out only then some action will be taken. Why are simple pothole and garbage-free roads so difficult to be provided in Bengaluru? If corruption is kept at bay for one year, the roads can be fixed properly."

Citizens have also been sharing flooding videos on social media to highlight the poor condition of the roads.

Silk board this morning at 6am pic.twitter.com/CFIJGQX1hI
Abhishek patel (@iabhiss) October 20, 2024

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) Bengaluru has issued an 'orange alert' for heavy rains until noon across Bengaluru. Moderate to heavy rain and thundershowers, accompanied by lightning, are likely on Monday. Bengaluru received 62 mm of rain in 24 hours till 8.30 am on October 21. The forecast indicates that this wet weather will persist until October 24.

A third user said that unlike other coastal cities like Chennai, Mumbai, and Kolkata, Bengaluru is yet to fully implement IoT-based flood sensors to monitor water levels and prevent urban flooding. "It’s time for a transfer, bring in a new commissioner, and fix the accountability. Shouldn’t Bangalore catch up with these smart solutions?" Nobin (@naveenroyal) said.