‘Good Problem To Have’: Priyank Kharge’s Bizarre Logic On Bengaluru Traffic Sparks Outrage

Bengaluru’s traffic woes are a daily struggle for millions but a recent comment by Karnataka Minister Priyank Kharge has turned that frustration into a social media storm. Speaking at the Mobility Symposium

2025, the Congress leader said that traffic congestion in the city is actually a “good problem to have,” and the reason, according to him, is that it shows Bengaluru’s growth.

While the Minister’s intent may have been to highlight the city’s booming economy, the statement hasn’t gone down well with netizens.

Priyank Kharge’s Take On Bengaluru’s Traffic

Addressing a gathering of policymakers and industry experts, Priyank Kharge, who serves as Karnataka’s Minister of Rural Development and Panchayat Raj, spoke about how Bengaluru’s rapid growth is reflected in its mobility issues.

“About 75.5 percent of Bengaluru’s population is part of the working population. We rank fourth globally. It’s a good problem to have traffic issues — it shows we’re growing, though we must solve it,” Kharge said.

The minister further explained that the traffic surge is also linked to the city’s economic expansion and increasing employment opportunities. He shared that last year, around 77.92 million square feet of office space was sold to global capability centers in the top seven cities, and 47 percent of that was in Bengaluru.

While speaking at the event, he also shared statistics about the rising number of vehicles on city roads, saying, “Bengaluru currently has around 1.2 crore registered vehicles — about 82 lakh two-wheelers and 25 lakh four-wheelers.” Kharge concluded that Bengaluru’s ability to absorb migrants and create jobs was proof of its flexibility.

Later, in a post on X, the Minister wrote, “The Government is solving these challenges collaboratively with think tanks and corporates,” he later wrote in a post on X (formerly Twitter).

Netizens Disagree With Priyank Kharge’s Comments

Social media, however, had contrasting opinions. One user wrote, “Nepo Kid & Rahul Gandhi’s close aide Priyank Kharge gives a bizarre logic to justify traffic woes in Bengaluru. He says ‘It’s a good problem to have traffic issues — it shows we’re growing.”

He added, “Maybe somebody should tell him fixing potholes, improving infra, getting Karnataka’s economy & budget on track will be better signs of growth!”

Another user pointed out the serious health risks linked to traffic woes. Their comment read, “Meanwhile, traffic negatively impacts health through air pollution, noise, and increased physical inactivity, leading to respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, stress, sleep disturbances, and a higher risk of premature death.”

The user added, “How immature of a sitting minister to justify their incompetent leadership by hailing a serious problem! Do people of Bengaluru pay higher prices for everything for getting mocked like this?”

With reactions pouring in across platforms, it is clear that Bengaluru’s traffic may be a “sign of growth,” but residents are not finding anything good about it.