Bengaluru, Oct 14 (NationPress) A recent post by Biocon Chief Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw highlighting the inadequate road infrastructure and waste management in Bengaluru has ignited a significant discussion regarding the Congress-led government's management of the city's infrastructure. On social media platform X, Shaw shared, “I hosted an international business visitor at Biocon Park who remarked, ‘Why are the roads in such disrepair and why is there so much litter? Doesn’t the government aim to promote investment? I just returned from China and cannot fathom why India is struggling, especially with favorable conditions at hand?”

She included Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Deputy CM and Bengaluru Development Minister D.K. Shivakumar, and IT & BT Minister Priyank Kharge in her message. Posted late Monday, the government has yet to respond to her comments.

Shaw's observations have ignited a conversation about the government’s negligence in providing adequate road infrastructure and efficient garbage management in Bengaluru. Revathy Ashok, Honorary CEO and Managing Trustee of the Bengaluru Political Action Committee (B-PAC), lamented the situation, questioning, “What does this mean for us citizens?”

Another user, ‘The Hermit’, remarked on X, “Our manager from the US told me during a meeting that on his last visit to Bangalore, he was struck by the presence of cows, dogs, and garbage everywhere. I felt utterly ashamed and embarrassed. This is the unfortunate reputation people take away.”

Previously, Padma Shri awardee and former Infosys CFO T.V. Mohandas Pai had also voiced concerns while addressing Deputy CM Shivakumar and Minister Priyank Kharge. He emphasized that the poor condition of Bengaluru's roads is not simply a consequence of growth but a result of corruption and ineffective governance. “Can we not have roads without potholes? This is not rocket science; it has been done for over 200 years,” he urged, calling on the newly established Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) to take action.

Pai shared a post from author Naresh, who recounted his experience traveling from the tech hub Bellandur to Bengaluru International Airport. Naresh wrote, “It took me 1 hour 45 minutes to travel from Bellandur to the airport! This is outrageous. The roads are all dug up and riddled with potholes. Regrettably, I believe Bangalore has the worst roads in India. This is unsustainable and will lead to numerous health issues for commuters in the next decade.”

This marks the second occasion that industry leaders have spotlighted the issue of poor road infrastructure. Both Mohandas Pai and Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw criticized the government after a well-known IT firm indicated plans to relocate from Bengaluru due to inadequate roads.

In response, Deputy CM Shivakumar strongly stated that IT companies cannot “intimidate” the government and are free to move if they wish. The company later clarified that it only planned to relocate within Bengaluru, though this statement stirred controversy.

Following this, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy CM Shivakumar directed officials to expedite pothole repairs and road maintenance, even conducting on-site inspections. However, the patched potholes have reopened after recent heavy rains.

Minister Priyank Kharge’s recent assertion that Bengaluru’s traffic issues are a sign of growth has also ignited further debate. It remains uncertain how the government will address the concerns expressed by industry leaders this time.