Bengaluru tech leaders protest inaction on poor roads, traffic jams: 'It will only get worse'

Pictures of flooded roads shared by entrepreneurs and tech leaders in Bengaluru. (Image credit: @banglani, @Ishansharma7390/X)

After the recent spate of rains flooded Bengaluru once again, tech leaders in the city seem to have had enough. As the region continues to get flooded after every wet spell, worsening the daily traffic congestion, several senior executives of tech startups have taken to social media to protest government inaction despite repeated requests.

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

On Tuesday, Curefoods founder Ankit Nagori shared on X that it took him three hours to commute 10 km. "Would have been 4 had I not walked the last 5 km. Earlier it used to be once or twice a year and now it’s almost after every rains," he wrote.

When another X user commented that there is no absolutely no hope of anything getting better since the government has shrugged responsibility, Nagori replied: "It will only get worse."

Investor Ritesh Banglani shared a picture of plying through flooded streets. "I'm in a traffic jam in the middle of a frigging river. But hey, at least the signboards are in Kannada," he wrote on X, taking a dig at the state government focusing on promoting the local language among migrant professionals even as the infrastructure of the IT capital is crumbling.

I'm in a traffic jam in the middle of a frigging river. But hey, at least the signboards are in Kannada. pic.twitter.com/zhed55fQCF
Ritesh Banglani (@banglani) October 22, 2024

Prime Ventures managing partner Amit Somani called for people to wear black in protest. "All those who suffered Bangalore traffic and horrible roads today, let’s wear black clothing tomorrow to mark our respectful protest," he tweeted on Tuesday.

YouTuber Ishan Sharma also took to X and asked where the tax money is going if he has to spend 1.5 hours to travel 11 km. He also highlighted how the tech capital "gets flooded with a couple of days of rain."

Welcome to BengaluruTechnology capital of India.Most "advanced" city.Gets flooded with a couple of days of rain.1.5hrs commute for 11kmI wonder where all the tax money is going? pic.twitter.com/2wMlknvsHYIshan Sharma (@Ishansharma7390) October 22, 2024

Meanwhile, according to India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecasts, rains will likely persist in Bengaluru until October 24. It has also has issued a yellow alert, indicating potentially severe weather with heavy rainfall, prompting safety measures across the city.

The Karnataka government has declared a holiday for schools on Tuesday due to intermittent rains and waterlogging in parts of the city.