BENGALURU: Karnataka deputy chief minister DK Shivakumar on Monday responded sharply to Samajwadi Party (SP) MP Rajeev Rai’s criticism of Bengaluru’s traffic congestion, saying he would meet the parliamentarian in New Delhi and “show him” what real traffic chaos looks like in the national capital. His comments add a fresh political twist to the ongoing debate over the city’s long-standing mobility crisis.
Shivakumar counters criticism with political retort
Rai, the Lok Sabha MP from Uttar Pradesh’s Ghosi constituency and part of the INDIA bloc, had on Sunday launched a scathing attack on Bengaluru’s traffic management after being stranded for nearly an hour on Rajkumar Samadhi Road. He claimed that he almost missed his flight and accused the traffic police of being “irresponsible” and “useless”, tagging Chief Minister Siddaramaiah in his post on X.
In response, Shivakumar—who oversees Bengaluru’s development—brushed off the criticism with humour and political sting. “Let me meet him in Delhi… I will meet him in Delhi and I will show him the traffic in Delhi,” he told reporters, as quoted by ANI. His remark suggested that traffic woes in the capital could offer Rai “perspective” on congestion in Bengaluru.
Rai’s accusations escalate political attention
Rai had shared screenshots showing his calls to traffic police going unanswered. He further alleged that no officers were present on the ground to manage the situation. Calling Bengaluru traffic “notorious” and claiming that mismanagement was damaging the reputation of the city, he urged authorities to take accountability.
The MP’s comments gained traction on social media, prompting political reactions and reigniting discussions on Bengaluru’s infrastructure challenges. His statement came at a sensitive time for the ruling Congress in Karnataka, which is managing both administrative pressure and internal power tussles between CM Siddaramaiah and DK Shivakumar.
Past controversies resurface for Shivakumar
Shivakumar’s latest reaction is being interpreted in the context of his earlier controversial remarks about the city’s traffic. In the past, he had stated that “even god cannot fix Bengaluru’s traffic”, drawing criticism for appearing dismissive of citizen concerns.
He also sparked outrage when he claimed that “people even hesitate to marry a boy who doesn’t own a car”, while defending the city’s proposed car-only tunnel project—an expensive and widely debated infrastructure plan.
Despite these remarks, Shivakumar continues to be the face of Bengaluru’s development roadmap and remains accountable for addressing congestion, road infrastructure, and urban mobility shortfalls.
Bengaluru among the slowest cities globally
The debate comes amid Bengaluru’s continued reputation as one of the world’s most congested cities. According to the 2024 TomTom Traffic Index, the city ranked among the top five slowest cities globally, based on the analysis of more than 737 billion kilometres of vehicle data. Slow travel speeds, rapid vehicular growth, and inadequate road networks have compounded daily mobility struggles for residents.
A recent report also highlighted that the city witnessed the addition of 2,774 vehicles every day, with 86,014 vehicles registered in October alone, further intensifying pressure on traffic management systems.
Conclusion
While Shivakumar’s political retort may have added humour to the ongoing debate, the underlying issue of Bengaluru’s persistent traffic crisis remains unresolved. Rai’s criticism has once again highlighted the widening gap between public frustration and administrative solutions. With both political leaders and citizens voicing concerns, the demand for sustainable long-term mobility reforms continues to grow.