Bengaluru: All that a logistics e-commerce platform company – BlackBuck, based at the IT hub Bellandur in Bengaluru – decided and put out on social media was that the firm was leaving its Outer Ring Road office due to deteriorating roads riddled with potholes and bum per-to-bumper traffic congestion. This announcement was made by BlackBuck’s Co-founder and CEO Rajesh Yabaji. The CEO stat ed that he had decided to move out from Bellandur as his staff had to commute to office for over one-and-a-half hours stuck in traffic. “Average commute for my colleagues shot up to 1.5+ hours (one way). Roads full of potholes and dust, coupled with the lowest intent to get them rectified. Didn’t see any of this changing in the next five years,” Yabaji had written on social media.
As the news gained traction online, it sparked a widespread debate among netizens, especially those working at companies on the Outer Ring Road in and around Bellandur, the tech hub. Some even tagged the Bengaluru District In-Charge Minister, who is also the Deputy Chief Minister, DK Shivakumar, demanding to know what he had done for Bengaluru’s traffic and pothole ridden roads in the last two-and a-half years.
Bengaluru’s road woes were ex posed a few days ago when videos and photos of a school bus stuck on a slushy road surfaced, showing it was about to topple and the school children had to be rescued through the emergency door of the vehicle.
With BlackBuck declaring it would move out of Bellandur, Bengaluru’s crumbling infra structure became the hot topic of debate not only on social media but also among political circles. Karnataka BJP, in the opposition, was quick to launch scathing at tacks on Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar, even demanding he step down as the Bengaluru District In-Charge Minister as companies were reportedly moving out of Bengaluru. Former Union Law Minister DV Sadananda Gowda said that the ruling Congress in Karnataka is incompetent. “If it continues like this, many companies will leave Bengaluru and choose other cities,” he warned.
Meanwhile, DCM DK Shivakumar hit back at corporates looking to move out of Bengaluru, stating, “No one can threaten or blackmail the government. I will not stop anyone from going. I wish them all the good luck. If they are not satisfied with man power, talent, or facilities, I can-not stop them, but no one can threaten the government. I am telling you this,” the DCM reiterated.
With this reaction from DCM DK Shivakumar, Andhra Pradesh’s IT Minister Nara Lokesh was also quick to woo the BlackBuck CEO, welcoming and inviting him to come to Vishakhapatnam and set up his company if he was moving out of Bengaluru. “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,” Nara Lokesh wrote on social media.
From there on, the political slugfest intensified with Karnataka Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao stating that Karnataka cannot be compared with Andhra Pradesh. “Andhra Pradesh has a long way to go to become like Karnataka. Since there is a new government there, they are trying to woo IT companies from Bengaluru. Of-course there are problems with roads due to the continuous rains and the government is making its efforts to rectify the issues. Bengaluru will not lose its sheen as an IT hub in the country,” Gundu Rao stated. Karnataka’s IT-BT Minister Priyank Kharge also said he wished all the luck to Andhra Pradesh inviting companies from Bengaluru. “Infrastructural problems are everywhere. It exists in Andhra Pradesh as well. Road conditions will have to be maintained seasonally in a time-bound manner and the government will work its way out to solve these issues. Where does Andhra Pradesh stand and where does Karnataka, especially Bengaluru, stand on the global map? Nara Lokesh can say anything,” Kharge told reporters.
Amid the slugfest, DCM DK Shivakumar announced Rs 1,100 crore for road repair and construction, promising smooth, pothole-free roads across all constituencies. He also set deadlines for potholes to be fixed. “Potholes must be filled within the dead line, and a timeline must be pre pared and submitted to me. The traffic police department must also provide details about pot holes, and I have instructed that the public should be taken into confidence,” DK Shivakumar added.
Meanwhile, BlackBuck, the digital trucking e-commerce portal startup that was in the eye of the storm, issued a clarification stating that the company was not moving out of Bengaluru but was relocating within the city to another place. The company refuted claims that it was considering leaving the city due to poor road conditions. BlackBuck CEO said that the firm was only moving to a different location within Bengaluru to better accommodate employee commutes and improve its business operations.
