Karnataka's Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has made a special appeal to Wipro's founder Azim Premji. Siddaramaiah has urged the businessman to allow limited vehicular movement within the company's premises to alleviate traffic congestion on the Outer Ring Road in Bengaluru.
An Appeal for Bengaluru's Benefit
In a letter dated September 19, Siddaramaiah mentioned, 'Preliminary assessments from traffic and urban mobility experts suggest that such measures could reduce congestion around the ORR by approximately 30%, especially during peak office hours.'
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Highlighting the impact of heavy traffic during peak hours, Siddaramaiah noted, 'It adversely affects mobility, productivity, and the quality of urban life.' He emphasized Wipro's pivotal role in this initiative, stating that this effort will 'significantly improve commuter experiences and contribute to a capable and livable Bengaluru.'
Source: aajtak
He requested the company to cooperate with government officials promptly to agree and develop a plan.
The Problem with Potholes and Traffic Jams
This proposal came after repeated concerns from commuters and civil groups regarding severe traffic jams on the Outer Ring Road, a crucial corridor for the city's IT hub. Recently, logistics technology firm Blackbuck's co-founder announced plans to vacate their office in Bellandur due to deteriorating road conditions.
Blackbuck CEO Rajesh Yabaji wrote on social media, pointing out that the Outer Ring Road is known for its 'pothole-ridden and dusty roads, with no evident desire to fix them.' He further mentioned that he doesn't expect the situation to improve for at least five years.
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This announcement sparked a wide debate and criticism of the Karnataka government's handling of civic issues. Central Minister and former Karnataka CM HD Kumaraswamy accused the administration of inefficiency and corruption, dubbing Bengaluru the 'city of potholes.' He claimed that industry confidence is waning, prompting moves to neighboring states, accusing the government of insulting Kannada pride by neglecting development.
Pressure on Siddaramaiah's Government
These remarks increased pressure on the state government to address concerns about traffic problems on the city’s busiest roads. Defending the government's record, Deputy Chief Minister and Bengaluru Development Minister DK Shivakumar stated that contractors have been given a final deadline to fill potholes by November.
He also announced a provision of INR 1,100 crore for citywide road repairs and construction. He affirmed, 'Our goal is a clean Bengaluru and smooth traffic. Therefore, the GBA will ensure potholes are eliminated swiftly.'
