Andhra Pradesh’s IT Minister Nara Lokesh has made a warm invitation to Rajesh Yabaji, CEO of BlackBuck, asking him to consider relocating the company from Bengaluru’s Outer Ring Road (ORR) to Visakhapatnam (Vizag). This comes after Yabaji announced that commuting around the ORR had grown unbearable: employees reportedly spending over 90 minutes each way in roads full of potholes and heavy congestion.

Lokesh on X (formerly Twitter) pointed out that Vizag is among the top-five cleanest cities in India, is building “best-in-class infrastructure,” and has been rated one of the safest cities for women. He invited Yabaji to send him a direct message to discuss relocation.

In Bengaluru, many in the IT sector are worried. Some say this move underlines failures in governance and city infrastructure. Former executives like Mohandas Pai called it “a big failure of governance.” Civic groups are demanding urgent action: better roads, improved metro connectivity, stronger utilities.

The government has responded: there is a ₹1,100 crore plan underway to repair and build roads in Bengaluru with promises of “pothole-free” stretches. But for many residents, talk is not enough. They point to uneven patches that wash away in rain and roads that remain unsafe despite promises.