A social media post by Harsh Goenka, Chairman of RPG Enterprises, has reignited the debate over Bengaluru’s transformation. Sharing a picture of Infosys co-founders Nandan Nilekani and NR Narayana Murthy on X, Goenka reflected on Bengaluru’s past and contrasted it with its present-day traffic woes.
Goenka reminisced about a time when Bengaluru was a peaceful city, with morning walks in Cubbon Park, leisurely drives, and afternoons spent in bookstores. He noted how the IT boom, led by a handful of visionary IIT graduates, transformed the city.
“Once upon a time, Bengaluru was a serene haven—morning walks in Cubbon Park, leisurely drives in Premier Padmini, and lazy afternoons spent in quaint bookstores. Then, a few bright IITians got some seed money from their their better halves, and now… we spend more time stuck on Outer Ring Road than enjoying the ‘Garden City’ breeze. Progress, they call it!” he posted on X.
Once upon a time, Bengaluru was a serene haven—morning walks in Cubbon Park, leisurely drives in Premier Padmini, and lazy afternoons spent in quaint bookstores.
— Harsh Goenka (@hvgoenka) March 7, 2025
Then, a few bright IITians got some seed money from their better halves, and now… we spend more time stuck on Outer… pic.twitter.com/HkyDf0NpFD
Netizens react to Goenka’s remarks
His statement sparked a range of reactions online. Some users defended Nilekani and Murthy, arguing that Bengaluru’s rapid transformation was inevitable. Others blamed poor urban planning for the city’s infrastructure struggles.
One user, @Tryambakam5, responded, “You got your money handed. Others had to work hard for it. Always a price to pay!” Another user commented, “We can’t have butter on both sides of the bread & eat it conveniently too, Goenka Saheb. I have never seen Bengaluru, not even when it was called Bangalore. The most likely oversight by the town planners of the MCB might have been their decision to permit IT & many other companies to come up either inside the city limits or just adjacent to it. That must be biting the city dwellers now.”
Some were more critical, with @venkyreddy calling the IT pioneers “real-estate mafias in suits.” Others took a balanced approach, emphasizing the need for better governance. One comment read, “As we look ahead, there’s a classic scenario unfolding where ‘progress’ is poised to bring both gains and pains, particularly if proper city planning isn’t prioritised by the governments. It’s important to approach this with an honest mind and not hastily assign blame to IITians.”