Bengaluru, India's premier technology hub, is once again at the center of a public debate, but this time over the very existence of its infamous road craters. Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar has stirred controversy by claiming that the city's pothole problem is merely a 'social media creation'.
The Contradictory Claims
In a recent statement to ANI, Shivakumar made a bold assertion about the state of Bengaluru's roads. 'There is no pothole, there is no issue. It is only a creation on social media. Bengaluru is doing well. People are coming from all over the world to invest in Bengaluru, live in Bengaluru, work in Bengaluru,' he said.
This remark left many citizens and observers baffled, as it directly contradicts his own position from just two months prior. At that time, the deputy chief minister had publicly acknowledged the problem and assured that large-scale repair work was actively underway across the city.
From Promises of Repairs to Denial
Earlier, through an official tweet, Shivakumar had detailed the government's efforts to fix the infrastructure. 'Pothole repair works are in full swing across Bengaluru. Our engineers and workers are on the ground every day, ensuring lasting quality in every repair. We are committed to delivering smoother and safer roads that match Bengaluru's growing aspirations,' he had posted.
The stark shift from promising quality repairs for safer, smoother roads to outright denial of the problem's existence has become the core of the controversy. Bengaluru, which hosts a dense concentration of global tech firms and startups, has long grappled with criticism over its deteriorating road infrastructure and chronic traffic congestion.
Social Media Erupts with Sarcasm
As expected, the deputy chief minister's 'no pothole' claim triggered an immediate and hilarious wave of reactions on social media platforms. Users employed sharp wit and sarcasm to highlight the absurdity of the statement.
One user suggested, 'These are not potholes, it's a training ground for our astronauts before the Gaganyaan mission.' Another quipped, 'Correct. Those are ‘water-harvesting features’ for bikes and cars.'
The sarcasm extended beyond just roads. A comment read, 'There is no corruption in India, it's just a social media creation!' while another user stated, 'Bengaluru has two seasons, traffic and potholes. Plot twist: politicians seem blind in both.'
One particularly pointed response addressed the personal experience of every commuter: 'Ah, so the potholes are just social media creations and Photoshop? Then my car's suspension must be a paid actor because it cries every time I hit a 'Digital' pothole.'
The online backlash underscores the deep disconnect between the political narrative and the daily lived reality of millions of Bengaluru's residents, for whom navigating broken roads remains a significant challenge.
