Sun Mar 09 13:28:23 UTC 2025: ## Bengaluru’s Boom: A Nostalgic Look at the Garden City’s Transformation

**Bengaluru, March 7, 2025** – A recent social media post by RPG Group Chairman Harsh Goenka has ignited a debate about Bengaluru’s dramatic transformation from a tranquil haven to a traffic-choked metropolis. Goenka’s post, featuring a photo of Infosys co-founders Narayana Murthy and Nandan Nilekani, reminisced about a bygone era of leisurely walks in Cubbon Park and quiet afternoons in bookstores, contrasting it with the current reality of gridlocked Outer Ring Road.

Goenka’s somewhat tongue-in-cheek observation – attributing the change to “a few bright IITians” and their entrepreneurial success – sparked a lively discussion on X. While some users agreed with his assessment of deteriorating infrastructure and increased congestion, others defended the city’s growth and the role of its tech pioneers in creating jobs and economic opportunities.

Many online commenters pointed the finger at poor urban planning and the builder lobby, rather than the tech industry itself, for the city’s infrastructural woes. One user commented, “The politicians builder lobby are to blame…They encroached lakes did not build roads…Did not build infra…Exploited the city.” Others highlighted the inherent trade-off between rapid development and its accompanying challenges like overcrowding. “Development comes at a certain cost,” one user wrote, “Overcrowding is collateral damage. The very people you criticize have created job opportunities for many, including myself.”

The debate underscores the complex evolution of Bengaluru, showcasing both the remarkable success of its tech industry and the urgent need for sustainable urban planning to manage its explosive growth. The city’s transformation serves as a compelling case study in the challenges and triumphs of rapid urbanization.

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