‘Why are roads so bad and so much garbage around?’: Kiran Majumdar Shaw shares overseas guest’s reaction to Bengaluru

Biocon founder Kiran Majumdar Shaw shared an embarrassing incident involving an overseas business visitor at her Biocon Park office in Bengaluru. The visitor criticised the city’s poor roads and open garbage, comparing it with China’s infrastructure standards.

Kiran Majumdar Shaw shares overseas guest's reaction

“I had an overseas business visitor to Biocon Park who said, ‘Why are the roads so bad and why is there so much garbage around? Doesn’t the government want to support investment? I have just come from China and can’t understand why India can’t get its act together, especially when the winds are favourable?’" Shaw posted on X, tagging state leaders including Siddaramaiah, DK Shivakumar, and Priyank Kharge.

Just a week back, Shaw highlighted Bengaluru’s dug-up and pothole-ridden roads, drawing the attention of the Karnataka government.

The 72-year-old woman entrepreneur called out the political leadership for its lack of “urgency to fix the city and make it world-class”.

“I also am puzzled about why the political leadership is not showing the political urgency to fix our city and make it world-class,” she wrote on X.

She added that all it takes is “urgency, focus and $1 billion push” to fix the city. “It doesn’t take more than a focus in terms of budgetary allocation and execution.” 

I had an overseas business visitor to Biocon Park who said ‘ Why are the roads so bad and why is there so much garbage around? Doesn’t the Govt want to support investment? I have just come from China and cant understand why India can’t get its act together especially when the…

— Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw (@kiranshaw) October 13, 2025

Series of criticisms, Govt action

In response to growing criticism, the Karnataka government has launched “Mission Free Traffic-2026," a 90-day initiative targeting the repair and resurfacing of 1,600 km of Bengaluru’s roads.

The plan includes pothole filling, road upgrades, public awareness campaigns, and private sector engagement to maintain roads and cleanliness. Authorities hope the plan will improve traffic flow and infrastructure quality by March 2026.

The decision of logistics startup BlackBuck to relocate from Bengaluru’s Outer Ring Road (ORR) due to worsening road conditions intensified the online discussion about the city. 

Former Infosys CFO Mohandas Pai called the situation a “big failure of governance," urging state authorities to intervene.

Ongoing metro construction along key stretches, including parts of ORR, has increased traffic congestion. Though AI-powered cameras enforce traffic rules, illegal parking and one-way violations continue to worsen commuter delays.

Tech workers and residents have called for the temporary closure of IT parks to prioritise road, drainage, and flyover repairs.

Also read: 'It took Hyderabad 30 years to become what it is today; Visakhapatnam can achieve same in 10 years': Nara Lokesh (startuppedia.in)