"Transportation woes with pocked roads causing extended commutes of more than 1.5 hours, prompting BlackBuck CEO to relocate office from Bengaluru"
In a significant shift, logistics tech platform BlackBuck has announced its decision to move its office out of Bengaluru's Outer Ring Road after nine years. The move, prompted by deteriorating road conditions and traffic issues, has sparked strong reactions from netizens, industry leaders, and local authorities.
The Outer Ring Road, initially built to divert heavy vehicles, has evolved into a dense hub of tech parks and housing, worsening congestion as firms push employees back to offices. This congestion has stretched the average commute for BlackBuck employees to more than 90 minutes one way.
BlackBuck's co-founder and CEO, Rajesh Yabaji, expressed his concern about the road conditions, stating that the Outer Ring Road is full of potholes and dust, with little intent to fix them. Biocon founder Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw also voiced her concern, calling for emergency measures to address the issues.
The Outer Ring Road employs 950,000 people across 500 companies and contributes 36% of Bengaluru's annual IT revenue. The decision by BlackBuck, a major employer in the region, has raised concerns about the city's ability to retain its status as the tech capital of India.
In response, Deputy Chief Minister and Bengaluru Development Minister D.K. Shivakumar announced that Rs 1,100 crore has been allocated for road repair and construction across the city. Shivakumar stated that the funds will be used to ensure every constituency benefits from these funds and to build smooth, pothole-free roads.
Krishna Kumar Gowda, general secretary of the Greater Bengaluru IT Companies & Industries Association, called for a transparent roadmap to improve roads, metro connectivity, and public utilities in Bengaluru. Gowda expressed the association's willingness to collaborate with authorities to restore Bengaluru's status as the tech capital of India.
Mohandas Pai, Infosys CFO and Aarin Capital chairman, described BlackBuck's decision to move out of Bengaluru's Outer Ring Road as a 'big failure of governance.' Pai urged state authorities to act in response to the decision.
Yabaji does not see any improvement in traffic and infrastructure issues in the next five years in the Outer Ring Road. However, the allocation of funds for road repairs and the willingness of authorities and industry leaders to address the issues offer a glimmer of hope for the future of Bengaluru's tech corridor.
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