Bengaluru’s crumbling infrastructure has reached a breaking point, and one tech professional has a radical solution that’s dividing the internet: shut down the city’s IT parks to fix the mess once and for all. But here’s where it gets controversial—Amarnath Shivashankar, a Bengaluru-based techie, took to social media to urge the Karnataka government to mandate remote work for IT companies, invoking Business Continuity Plans (BCP), so that critical repairs to roads, drainage systems, and other infrastructure can be expedited.
Shivashankar pointed out that during the Covid-19 pandemic, major IT hubs like the Outer Ring Road, ITPL, Electronic City, Manyata Tech Park, and Bagmane Tech Park operated remotely for over a year. He argues, ‘If they did it then, why not now? Employees are losing valuable hours stuck in traffic, and the city’s infrastructure is only getting worse.’ He even tagged Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar and the Chief Minister’s Office, challenging them to take bold action: ‘Invoke the BCP, close the IT parks for a few months, fix the roads, complete flyovers, fast-track the Metro, and procure more BMTC buses. Where there’s a will, there’s a way.’
But is this proposal practical, or just wishful thinking? The post ignited a fiery debate online. Some users wholeheartedly supported the idea, with one commenting, ‘Work from home till we fix the home. #FixBengaluru. This could be the city’s best infrastructure plan yet.’ Another added, ‘If the government is serious about its people, this is how it should be done.’
However, others highlighted the ‘practical challenges’ of such a move. One user explained, ‘We’re not in a global crisis anymore. Parent companies want employees back in the office, not just in India but worldwide. Companies would have to maintain unused facilities, and there’s the fear of moonlighting if everyone works from home. Closing IT parks would also hurt local businesses—hotels, eateries, PGs, and even the automobile industry. The rental and real estate markets would suffer too.’ Another remarked, ‘I know it’s painful, but shutting down IT parks is asking for too much.’
And this is the part most people miss—one user suggested an alternative: ‘Roads can be fixed at night, like in Chennai. The Corporation needs better engineers and contractors. If national highways can be built quickly, why not city roads?’
So, what do you think? Is shutting down IT parks a bold solution to Bengaluru’s infrastructure crisis, or an unrealistic demand? Could remote work be the key to fixing the city, or would it create more problems than it solves? Let’s spark a discussion—share your thoughts in the comments below!
