By Ishita Ganguly

Copyright startuppedia

“After the CEO of online trucking platform BlackBuck, Rajesh Yabaji, decided to relocate the office from the Outer Ring Road (ORR) area, citing unmanageable traffic and poor road conditions, Bengaluru”s crumbling road infrastructure received massive criticism.Advertisment Following that incident, Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar has ordered contractors to repair potholes across the city by November. Rajesh Yabaji shared that his company would relocate from the Outer Ring Road (ORR) area, citing unmanageable traffic and poor road conditions. “ORR (Bellandur) has been our “office + home” for the last nine years. But it”s now very, very hard to continue here,” Rajesh Yabaji, co-founder of the logistics startup formally known as Zinka Logistics Solutions Ltd., said in a post on X. “We have decided to move out.” In the wake of BlackBuck’s announcement, Andhra Pradesh Minister Nara Lokesh on Wednesday invited the firm to relocate to Visakhapatnam, adding pressure on Bengaluru. “Contractors have been given a final deadline to fill the potholes within November. Since a clean Bengaluru and smooth traffic are our goals, the Greater Bengaluru Authority will provide relief from potholes as soon as possible,” Karnataka”s Shivakumar said in a post on X. The assurance comes after his earlier announcement on September 14 that the tech capital would receive a major push in road development, with Rs 1,100 crore allocated for repair and construction projects. “We recognise Andhra Pradesh”s efforts to attract IT investments, but Bengaluru”s unique ecosystem of talent, innovation, and business networks is unparalleled,” said Greater Bengaluru IT Companies & Industries Association (GBITCIA) general secretary Krishna Kumar Gowda in a statement. “We call on the Karnataka Government to urgently address the infrastructure challenges outlined by firms like BlackBuck,” the statement read. As reported by MoneyControl, the GBITCIA’s action plan combines short-term operational changes with long-term infrastructure demands to improve traffic flow in Bengaluru’s tech corridors. Short-term measures Encouraging remote work: The association proposed increased work-from-home days for employees, particularly during high-congestion periods. Staggered office hours: Implementing different start and end times for offices to distribute traffic load throughout the day. Mandatory carpooling: Promoting or mandating reduced single-occupancy vehicle usage during peak hours. Temporary traffic control: Strategic diversions and restricted entry/exit points at bottlenecks. Improved pedestrian infrastructure: Asking for upgraded footpaths and skywalks to enhance pedestrian safety and accessibility. Long-term infrastructure demands Transparent roadmap: GBITCIA demands a transparent government roadmap for major infrastructure improvements, including roads, metro connectivity, and public utilities. Metro expansion: The organisation noted that the expansion of the Namma Metro network is necessary for easing congestion, particularly on the ORR. Addressing road quality: An immediate solution for Bengaluru”s pothole-riddled roads is high on the list of demands. Also read: ‘Saved me and others from being swept away’: Man thanks Zomato, Swiggy riders for rescuing in Hyderabad flood (startuppedia.in)”