Why are industry leaders concerned about the tech firm's relocation from Bengaluru's ORR?

Bengaluru, Sep 17 (NationPress) In light of BlackBuck's announcement to relocate from the Outer Ring Road (ORR) in Bengaluru due to inadequate road conditions, prominent figures from the Information Technology sector expressed their concerns on Wednesday. They urged the Karnataka government to take immediate action to rectify the situation.

Mohandas Pai, a Padma Shree award recipient, along with Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, the founder of Biocon, responded to the news in a social media post on Wednesday. Pai tagged Karnataka's Deputy Chief Minister, D.K. Shivakumar, who also oversees Bengaluru's development, expressing his dissatisfaction and urging him to implement solutions to enhance the city's road infrastructure.

“It’s a significant governance failure in Bengaluru. Companies are leaving the ORR area. The situation seems hopeless. Please take action,” remarked Pai, a former CFO of Infosys.

In a repost of Pai’s message, Mazumdar-Shaw stated, “This is alarming. Urgent measures are required to rectify these problems.”

Rajesh Yabaji, Co-Founder and CEO of BlackBuck, which has been operating from the Bellandur ORR for nearly nine years, voiced his discontent regarding the poor road conditions. He announced on Tuesday that the company intends to relocate, although the new location has not yet been disclosed.

On X, Yabaji conveyed, "The ORR Bellandur has served as both our office and home for the past nine years. However, the challenges have become overwhelming, prompting our decision to relocate."

Elaborating on his choice, he mentioned, "The average commute for my team has escalated to 1.5 hours each way. The roads are riddled with potholes and dust, and there’s little intention to address these issues. I don’t anticipate any improvements in the next five years."

In his critical post on Wednesday, Pai also tagged the Commissioner of Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA), Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Minister for IT and BT Priyank Kharge, and BJP MP P.C. Mohan.

Speaking with the media, Pai noted, "A campus spanning 9.5 crore square feet has been established along the ORR, employing 8 lakh individuals in various companies. Major global firms are located here. Any responsible government would enhance the roads and provide necessary facilities for this vital corridor. Yet, the state government is neglecting Bengaluru."

"I met with the Bengaluru Development Minister a month and a half ago and submitted a list of required works in Bengaluru, which he acknowledged. I stressed the significance of the ORR stretch as it is home to countless workers. They have spoken with relevant stakeholders about this issue. Nevertheless, only minimal initiatives are being undertaken, and there’s a lack of comprehensive planning," Pai remarked.

"With a budget of Rs 4 lakh crore, why are these roads still in disrepair? I urge Shivakumar to engage in regular consultations with senior officials and demand weekly reports. We must restore hope. Daily, people are caught in traffic for hours. International representatives are hesitant to visit Bengaluru, opting instead for Noida and other locations," he asserted.

In response to the poor state of Bengaluru's roads, Deputy Chief Minister Shivakumar stated, "A deadline has been established to repair potholes and submit a written report to me. Commissioners have been instructed to provide updates on their morning inspections of the city."