BENGALURU: The decision of a logistics firm to move out from Outer Ring Road (ORR), citing persistent infrastructure and traffic problems that force its employees into 1.5-hour commutes each way, has once again brought to the fore the issue of Bengaluru’s crumbling infrastructure driving away investors.
While the opposition BJP slammed the state government over its failure to provide needed infrastructure to retain companies, Andhra Pradesh minister Nara Lokesh extended red carpet to the company to invest in Vizag.
Rajesh Yabaji, CEO of BlackBuck located on the Outer Ring Road, stated on social media, “ORR (Bellandur) has been our “office + home” for the last nine years. But it’s now very, very hard to continue here. We have decided to move out.”
He explained that his colleagues face 1.5-hour one-way commutes due to potholes and dust, with little hope for improvement.
His post has drawn widespread criticism about the city’s infrastructure. Biocon founder Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw and Infosys former CFO TV Mohandas Pai have cautioned the government over the development. Pai called out the Karnataka government and the BBMP over the badly managed City infrastructure. “Big, big failure of governance in Bengaluru. Minister?@DKShivakumar?, please see, cos are moving out of ORR. Situation beyond hope,” he posted, demanding immediate intervention of the chief minister, IT minister Priyank Kharge, GBA chief commissioner and BJP Central MP PC Mohan.
Biocon chief Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, who had highlighted the poor road infrastructure in the past also, took note of the development and replied to Pai’s post, “This is serious. Emergency measures needed to fix these issues @DKShivakumar.”
Opposition leader R Ashoka took a dig at the Congress government. “Once India’s Silicon Valley, today sinking under Congress’ neglect! Blackbuck moving out of Bellandur because of pathetic road infra exposes the reality of CM Siddaramaiah & DCM DK Shivakumar’s so-called Brand Bengaluru. Investors fleeing, Entrepreneurs frustrated. Citizens suffer daily,” he charged, adding “Congress = Corruption, Chaos & Collapse. Time to save Bengaluru from this disaster!”
Seeing an opportunity in the situation, Andhra Pradesh’s Human Resources Development Minister Nara Lokesh invited the logistic firm to relocate to Vizag. “Hi Rajesh, can I interest you in relocating your company to Vizag? We are rated among top five cleanest cities in India, are building best-in-class infra, and have been rated the safest city for women. Please send me a DM,” Lokesh responded to the BlackBuck CEO’s social media post.
Following the development, Deputy Chief Minister (DCM) and Bengaluru Development Minister DK Shivakumar stated that contractors have been given a final deadline to fill the potholes by November. “Since a clean Bengaluru and smooth traffic are our goals, the Greater Bengaluru Authority will provide relief from the potholes as soon as possible,” he assured.
He added that at a cost of Rs 694 crore, works on 184 roads covering 349 km are taken up, and contractors have been directed to ensure there is no water stagnation of the surface of the roads. 178 roads covering 401 km are free of defects, and in case of potholes and damage, resurfaces, contractors will only have to repair them. He also stressed that the government has allocated Rs 1,100 crore for road development.