Bengaluru: Astronaut and Indian Air Force (IAF) group captain Shubhanshu Shukla began his session at the Bengaluru Tech Summit 2025 on Thursday with a remark that instantly connected with the audience — a quip about the city’s notorious traffic delays. Addressing a packed hall, he said he had travelled from Marathahalli and spent “three times the duration of this presentation” simply reaching the venue, drawing laughter and applause from attendees.
Shukla’s humour sets the tone
Shukla, who recently returned from his mission to the International Space Station (ISS), often uses humour to share lighter aspects of his journey. On Thursday, he contrasted the challenges of space travel with the everyday struggle of navigating Bengaluru roads.
“Look at the commitment that I have,” he joked, adding that the commute felt longer than some segments of his space mission.
His session, which covered zero-gravity experiments, ISS life and space food innovations, was one of the most anticipated at this year’s summit, which brought together scientists, innovators, policymakers and global technology leaders.
Minister Priyank Kharge uses the remark as a punchline
Hours later, Karnataka IT minister Priyank Kharge referenced the astronaut’s comment during his keynote address at the Future Makers Conclave, held at the same venue — the Bangalore International Exhibition Centre, roughly 30 km from the city centre.
“Like Shubhanshu Shukla said, it was easier for him to get from space to Bengaluru, but from Marathahalli to here was a little difficult,” Kharge said, prompting laughter from delegates. He added, “We’ll ensure that doesn’t happen again,” promising improvements to the traffic and mobility ecosystem around major event hubs.
Traffic concerns resurface at major tech events
Bengaluru’s traffic remains one of the most persistent complaints among residents, start-up leaders and visiting dignitaries. Large-scale events such as global tech conferences, defence expos and investor summits frequently intensify congestion along arterial stretches like Tumakuru Road, Outer Ring Road and the airport corridor.
Shukla’s remark once again highlighted how even high-profile visitors are not spared the delays. Mobility planners say the city requires long-term solutions — including improved public transport coverage, multimodal connectivity and infrastructure upgrades — to meet the demands of its fast-growing tech ecosystem.
Symbolism in Shukla’s journey and Bengaluru’s promise
Shukla, celebrated as one of India’s new-generation astronauts, has become a symbol of the country’s technological ascent. His presence at the Bengaluru Tech Summit reflected the city’s central role in India’s aerospace, start-up and R&D sectors.
While the humour over traffic drew attention, the larger focus of Shukla’s session was India’s expanding space ambitions, the future of space-based research and the importance of fostering talent in science and engineering — areas where Bengaluru continues to lead.
Conclusion
The light-hearted exchange between Shukla and Minister Kharge provided a relatable moment in an otherwise high-power technology summit, underlining both Bengaluru’s persistent traffic concerns and its position as India’s premier innovation hub. With promises of better mobility planning, attendees hope that future editions of the summit will be easier to access than a journey back from space.