A political row has erupted over Bengaluru's infamous traffic congestion, sparked by sharp criticism from a visiting parliamentarian and a fiery retort from a senior Karnataka minister.
MP's Frustrating Snarl and Social Media Outburst
Samajwadi Party (SP) Member of Parliament Rajeev Rai, who is also part of the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA), launched a scathing attack on Bengaluru's traffic management after a personal ordeal. The MP from Uttar Pradesh's Ghosi constituency found himself stuck in a massive traffic jam on Rajkumar Samadhi Road on Sunday.
Rai, who chairs the AVK Group of Institutions in Bengaluru, took to social media platform X to express his fury. He stated he was stranded for over an hour and was on the verge of missing his flight back to Delhi to attend a Parliament session. In his post, he tagged Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and the city's police commissioner.
"CM of Karnataka, I am sorry but you have the worst traffic management and the most irresponsible, useless traffic police," Rai wrote. He alleged that traffic police officials did not respond to his repeated phone calls, sharing a screenshot as proof. He concluded by calling Bengaluru's traffic "the most notorious" in reputation.
Deputy CM's Swift and Defensive Counter
The criticism did not go unanswered. Karnataka's Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar, who also oversees Bengaluru's development, responded to reporters on Monday. In a pointed rebuttal, Shivakumar said he would meet Rai in New Delhi and "show him what traffic is like in Delhi." He added that he would tag the MP in his response.
This meeting could happen as early as this week, as Shivakumar is scheduled to be in the national capital for Congress party meetings. This is not the first time Shivakumar has made headlines for his comments on the city's traffic. He previously faced backlash for stating that "even god can't fix Bengaluru's traffic problems" and for remarks about IT companies not being able to "blackmail" the government over the issue.
Bengaluru's Global Traffic Ranking and Ongoing Woes
The public spat highlights the persistent and severe traffic crisis plaguing India's tech capital. The issue finds validation in global reports. The 14th edition of the TomTom Traffic Index 2024 ranks Bengaluru among the world's five slowest cities for traffic speed. The index, which uses data from over 737 billion kilometres driven globally, also included Kolkata and Pune from India in the bottom five.
The incident underscores the daily challenges faced by commuters and the pressure on city administrators to find sustainable solutions for urban mobility. While politicians exchange barbs, residents continue to grapple with long hours lost in congestion, impacting productivity, schedules, and overall quality of life in the metropolitan city.
