Bengaluru’s notorious traffic is more than just an inconvenience; it’s become a ‘hidden tax’ on its residents. A recent viral Reddit post from a tech employee working in JP Nagar has ignited a city-wide conversation about the sheer amount of time lost to daily commutes. The techie, earning a substantial ₹28 lakh annually, detailed how a mere 14-kilometer commute to the Outer Ring Road office, which should ideally take 30 minutes, instead consumes a staggering 90 minutes each way.
This daily grind translates into a significant loss of productivity, with the employee estimating a staggering 2.5 months of productive time evaporating into traffic jams over the course of a year. The post highlighted how the taxes paid by citizens, intended for infrastructure development, seem to have been mismanaged, leading to inefficient planning and ultimately forcing people to pay this ‘hidden tax’ of lost time.
The sentiment expressed in the post resonated deeply with many Bengaluru residents, who shared their own frustrations in the comments. One user pointed out the broader implications, stating that a Bengaluru engineer in a city with better infrastructure and cleaner air could be 20% more efficient. Another commenter emphasized the need for better urban planning and suggested solutions like incentivizing companies to invest in tier-two cities to ease the pressure on Bengaluru.
The discussion also touched upon the environmental impact, with users lamenting the constant coughing and sneezing due to air pollution, which further contributes to lost workdays. The post serves as a stark reminder of the urgent need for improved traffic management and urban planning in Bengaluru to reclaim lost productivity and improve the quality of life for its residents.